Campaigners against a massive new Knowle retirement village providing 170 care units for the elderly look set for disappointment.

The proposal for the retirement community in Warwick Road will go before Solihull Council's planning committee for a final decision next week.

Applicant C Coombs & Senior Living Ltd wants to knock the existing Stripes Hill farmhouse on the 10 acre site down for the homes which would be aimed at over 65s.

Inspired Villages would operate the site and wants to create a community for retirees made up of bungalows, cottages, and apartments, with a variety of facilities available to residents.

A design and access statement in the application says homes would be: "designed with the primary objective of meeting resident's care needs and allowing residents to age appropriately in place."

The site would include its own village square which "provides ample space for community events for residents and the wider public to enjoy".

Facilities included in the planning application are a cafe, restaurant, meeting and activity space, swimming pool, gym, fitness studio, and treatment rooms. 

Knowle locals living outside the retirement community would be able to use the fitness areas on a membership basis.

A horticultural garden, community orchard, communal gardens and wildlife orchard are also planned.

Impressive artists impressions of what the site would look like were included with the application originally lodged with Solihull Council in February 2023, when it was first reported on by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The application is for initial full planning approval for 48 extra care units including the village centre, and for outline planning permission of the remaining 122 extra care units with ancillary community space, gardens, green space, landscaping and all other associated works. 

In a boost for the applicant Solihull Council officers have recommended the retirement village be given approval by the committee.

This is despite 21 objections raising various concerns including overlooking and loss of privacy; traffic congestion; and that "the village cannot support such large scale development and will lose its identity". 

Planning officers write in a report for the committee: "The proposal provides accommodation for elderly persons, for which there is a need nationally and locally.

"Solihull's population is older than the regional and England average.

"There is clearly unmet need for this type of accommodation in the borough."

Officers add that although the site is in the green belt there are numerous and significant benefits that outweigh the harm, so "very special circumstances do exist".

The application is on the agenda for the committee's next meeting being held on Wednesday, February 5.