Councillors gave the go-ahead for an enormous new neighbourhood extending a Solihull village but a planning chief has blasted an applicant for a lack of consultations.

Developers Harris Strategic Land And Colchurch Properties Limited applied for outline planning permission to build 970 homes on green belt land between Station Road and Waste Lane, alongside the new HS2 line in Balsall Common.

It had been proposed 50 per cent would be affordable housing – split 65 per cent social rented and 35 per cent shared ownership – with 70 units for a care home or retirement accommodation.

And the significant urban extension would also see land provided for a primary school, additional car parking space for Berkswell Railway Station and public open space.

Council planning officers wrote in a report that they have determined the land to be grey belt – green belt land suitable for housing and to be developed – and recommended the application be approved at the latest meeting of Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council's planning committee on July 15.

In the public speaking section parish councillor Richard Drake said: "As a community we are mostly resigned to nearly 2,000 new homes coming.

"Resistance is futile, it is now likely we will get significantly more than 2,000.

"However we want these developments to be as good as they can be for current and new residents."

Ward councillor Heather Delaney said: "The applicant has not carried out any public engagement since 2022, despite the scheme changing significantly over this time.

"Given the scale of this development ongoing engagement with the community should be expected."

Planning agent Richard Brown, on behalf of the applicant, said: "Unlike many housing schemes this proposal includes substantial supporting infrastructure, as an example a new primary and pre-school.

"There are economic benefits. The scheme is considered fully compliant (with planning policies).

"Grey belt was dealt with by officers in their report."

In the committee's debate Cllr David Hoey asked: "It is clearly green belt, under the current government it is grey belt.

"If this outline application is approved but maybe in the future a new government comes in and reverts back to green belt, could this application be rescinded?"

Planning officer Matt Preece replied simply "No".

Before moving to the vote chairman of the committee Cllr Bob Grinsell said: "I want to address Mr Brown.

"I was very disappointed to hear from councillors, residents, that community engagement seems to have been zero.

"As you are aware if we approve this scheme this evening it is in outline only and reserved matters (for layout, scale, landscaping and appearance of the dwellings) will then come before us.

"Please ensure your client is advised of my comments – they need to engage with the community at Balsall Common and Berkswell."

In the vote councillors voted unanimously to approve the application, subject to conditions.