AN untouched piece of land in Amblecote which acts as an oasis for wildlife is officially under threat after hospital bosses confirmed plans to develop the site to help raise funds.

The chief executive of the Dudley Group, which runs the borough's hospitals, has announced the trust has been working up plans with a developer to sell off the land at the back of Corbett Outpatient Centre for new homes.

Amblecote residents have spent the last few months nervously awaiting such news after seeing surveyors sizing up the site which is included in the Black Country Core Strategy's call for sites document which aims to identify future building land.

The strategy document suggests the five-hectare site, which is currently used for grazing, could accommodate up to 130 new homes and Diane Wake, chief executive of the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, said: "In light of financial challenges that face the NHS and the Trust, we have a duty to make the best use of our resources and public money.

"NHS guidance sets out our requirements to dispose of surplus assets. Accordingly, we have carried out a review of our surplus assets to see what opportunities may exist for the Trust.

"We own a parcel of land at the rear of the Corbett Outpatient Centre and our intention is to sell it and reinvest the money directly back into patient care for the people of Dudley and surrounding areas.

"The money will be spent on crucial medical equipment to support the local communities’ healthcare."

The land was part of The Hill estate which was bought by 'salt king' John Corbett for a hospital in 1892 - and in 1948 it, along with all hospital land, was acquired by the newly-formed NHS.

A previous campaign for housing in 1992 was rejected.

Helen Cook, of Amblecote History Society, has described the site as "the last piece of original Amblecote left" and said it acts as an important travel corridor for wildlife including birds, owls, bats, amphibians, small mammals, foxes and badgers and insects.

She added: "The Corbett Hospital meadow is an historical ancient meadow and a greenfield site - many will have fond memories of the fetes held here."

And she is urging people concerned about the loss of habitat to make sure they have their say at a forthcoming community exhibition which will be held from 3pm to 8pm on November 4 at Stourbridge Football Club, in Amblecote High Street where representatives from development company Countryside Properties will be seeking views and sharing more information about their plans for the site.

Kyle Pedley, who is set to stand for the Conservatives in Amblecote in 2020, has also started a petition against the development which can be signed online at change.org.

Mr Pedley, who grew up on the Trinity Road estate near to the beauty spot, said: “Not only would building on this space rob us of one of the few areas of green space in Amblecote and the surrounding area, not only would it ruin an area of local historical significance and natural beauty, but the proposed developments would also create obvious major congestion issues and exacerbate the existing problems on the already extremely busy main thoroughfares at the bottom of Vicarage Road and along Amblecote High Street.”

Stourbridge MP Margot James is also keen to see the site preserved as an oasis of green space.

The Tory turned independent MP said: "Corbett Meadow is undoubtedly one of a few unspoilt sites in Amblecote. The beauty of the site provides an unquestionable amenity to local residents."