Up to 200 homes at Land West Of Warwick Road Warwick Road, Knowle, Solihull

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval because very special circumstances, including housing delivery and land for Arden Academy, outweighed Green Belt and other harm.

“The development would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt and would cause harm by definition to the Green Belt. It would have a significant impact to the openness of the Green Belt compared to the existing undeveloped site. Further, the residential development would cause limited harm to 3 of the purposes of including land within it (namely urban sprawl, coalescence and encroachment). Substantial weight is attached to the green belt harm.”

Officer report

What consultees said

Some consultees had no objection subject to conditions or contributions, while ecology and landscape officers objected and the local forum objected to several aspects.

“Lead Flood Authority: No objection subject to conditions.”

“Masterplan: there remains no master plan for the wider Arden Triangle site; the piecemeal approach being followed is a major failure to properly plan for this significant development site; • Site Access and Highways Issues: the Forum has serious concerns over the safety of the accesses to the site.”

Officer report

What residents and groups said

Residents and the Knowle Society raised concerns about traffic, infrastructure, ecology, flooding, Green Belt development, density, character and the lack of a comprehensive masterplan.

“Proposal encroaches into the Green Belt; • Development should not be on Green Belt; • There are not ‘Very Special Circumstances’ to justify this development in the Green Belt; and • The site should not be classified as grey belt land.”

“The Knowle Society: Object raising the following key points: • Lack of a comprehensive masterplan for KN2; • Potential overall number of new houses with the consequent implications for density, character, open space provision, traffic and infrastructure and disregard to Neighbourhood Plan policies; • The land being of Green Belt status - but also a completely inappropriate outline planning application; • Density of development is unacceptable; • Although there is provision…”

Officer report

Who spoke

One speaker spoke against the application and one speaker spoke in support.

The committee's decision

The committee approved the application subject to conditions, completion of a Section 106 agreement and referral to the National Planning Casework Unit.

“PL/2025/00155/PPOL - LAND WEST OF WARWICK ROAD Approved subject to: (i) Conditions and the completion of a Section 106 Agreement. (ii) Referral to the National Planning Casework Unit under the Town and Country Planning (Consultation) (England) Direction 2014 (in the scenario where the proposal found to be inappropriate development in the Green Belt and very special circumstances exist to clearly outweigh the harm).”

Minutes