Sutton Coldfield Conservatives have selected a former Longbridge councillor to contest a safe seat at next year’s local elections.

The Sutton New Hall members chose Ken Wood who represented Longbridge from 2008 to 2012, from a shortlist of five candidates.

Coun David Barrie (Cons, Sutton New Hall) said: “Ken has got the experience and skills we need to fight the Birmingham Development Plan and save our green belt.” The Labour council’s plan to build 5,000 homes on the green belt in the area is the main political battleground.

The seat is up for grabs after sitting councillor James Bird, the Birmingham Tories’ education spokesman, announced he would step down next May due to work commitments. Sutton New Hall, being one of the few safe Tory seats available in Birmingham, was hotly contested.