Plans to release green belt land for up 6,000 homes on the edge of Sutton Coldfield have been put on hold by a government housing minister.

The Birmingham Development Plan (BDP), which sets out plans for the next 15 years, has been paused by the Government following an intervention from Sutton Coldfield MP Andrew Mtichell.

The Conservative MP, who has led the campaign against green belt development in the royal town, asked the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Greg Clark to officially review the proposal.

And the city council has been told to put the BDP on pause while he considers the idea.

Mr Clark's colleague, housing minister Brandon Lewis, has written to the city council asking them not to implement the BDP while this is looked into.

Watch below: Protest walk over Sutton Coldfield green belt plan

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Mr Lewis said: "The matter will be dealt with as quickly as possible."

In April, a government planning inspector approved the BDP which outlines what type of building can go where in the city.

The plan earmarks space for 51,000 homes in Birmingham including the 6,000 on the green belt at Langley in Sutton Coldfield.

Suzanne Webb of the Project Fields campaign group said: "I am absolutely thrilled with the news as it is a huge step in the right direction. The inspector, planners, and our city council have ignored the voice of the community for three years and the Government is now rightly holding them to account.

"No one has denied the need for houses, but it should be the right houses, in the right place, with the right infrastructure.

"Birmingham is veering on capacity with a shortfall of over 45,000 dwellings by 2031; we must have a new settlement, on brownfield land, to provide the much-needed houses for our children and grandchildren.To remove what little open space the city has is an environmental disaster in the making.

"I am very proud of Project Fields. We have stood tall where many would have given up when faced with such belligerence by the decision makers."

Conservative councillor for Sutton New Hall ward Alex Yip added: "We will keep fighting this plan at every stage."

He said that Conservatives are going to table a motion at the full council challenging the plan.