Council planners have signed off updated plans to divert a stream near Balsall Common for HS2 works.

The high speed rail developer already had permission to change the route of the unnamed watercourse near the Sixteen Acre Wood, but has since updated its designs.

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council approved the amended application last month, with new plans for a 540 metre-long embankment also approved.

Plans show the watercourse will be moved to run parallel to the new railway line near Mercote Hall Lane and be diverted under a public footpath and under a new access road.

The application explained: "The watercourse will be diverted along the southern side of the cutting before discharging into Bayley's Brook outside the site boundary near Marsh Farm.

"The chosen route is the shortest possible route to divert flows back into Bayley's Brook and the one that can be constructed offline thereby minimising disruption to the watercourse."

It continued: "Meanders have been created where possible by introducing slight bends.

"Efforts are made within the design to create as natural an appearance as possible.

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"A two-stage channel is proposed due to low flows."

Shrubs and other vegetation are due to be planted around the stream to "break up the uniformity of the channel".

The HS2 Act decrees the works will take place, with the council only able to consider certain design elements.

Approving the plans, a report said: "Overall, it is considered that the building works [...] are acceptable in preserving the local environment or local amenity."

It continued: "Whilst the applicants advise that these modifications would achieve a more natural design with more meanders and accommodating more varied channels, the modifications are relatively minor and the majority of the watercourse diversion would remain predominantly straight.

"Whilst the proposals would be a slight improvement to what was previously approved the mitigation measures previously requested [...] would still be considered necessary."