Councillors have again approved a huge retirement village in Knowle after a legal challenge.

Applicant C Coombs & Senior Living Ltd applied to demolish the existing Stripes Hill farmhouse on the ten-acre site on Warwick Road to make way for 170 homes for the over-65s.

Inspired Villages would operate the site and plans to create a community for retirees made up of bungalows, cottages, and apartments.

Facilities would include a café, restaurant, meeting and activity space, swimming pool, gym, fitness studio, and treatment rooms.

The scheme was given the green light in February, but a legal challenge from Shoosmiths solicitors raised concerns over how councillors came to their decision.

Officers had said the scheme needed to be returned to Solihull Council's planning committee to determine how it gave approval and whether it judged the land green belt or the new grey belt, which is lower quality green belt land which means a site can be used for housing.

In the public speaking section a resident said there had been a lack of consultation, adding they would have to live with the village for decades.

Ellen Pearce, a representative from Inspired Village, said: "There continues to be very special circumstances which exist to justify the development of this site within the green belt.

"As well as the pressing need for extra care housing there will be on-site biodiversity net gain above 20 per cent, carbon net zero regulated energy design, significant investment in Knowle, hundreds of direct and indirect jobs and freeing up of family homes."

Inspired Villages would operate the site and plans to create a community for retirees (image via planning application)

On the consultation point, council officer Mark Andrews, the authority's head of planning, design and engagement services, said: "There is always a feeling we could do more in terms of community engagement.

"I feel there has been a good degree of consultation over this application."

In the councillors' debate. chairman of the committee Cllr Bob Grinsell said he was "very pleased" there was a condition the applicant had to gift some of the land for the redevelopment of Arden Academy.

Cllr Mark Wilson highlighted the green efficiency promises raised by the applicant.

"Really, with that in mind, all future developments should be sustainable," he said.

He said he had concerns the scheme would contribute to more traffic on roads near the development including Warwick Road.

"Yes there are cycle ways and bus stops and I take on board we want people to walk or get public transport to the site," he said.

"But I think we have to be realistic here."

Mr Andrews said, with other schemes in the wider area, a "worst case scenario" had been considered with the mitigating options available.

He said the developer was making a contribution to cycle connectivity and local travel, which would be part of a wider package linked to the building of other housing estates nearby.

When the vote was taken the chairman made clear committee members would vote on the basis the scheme was in green belt land but very special circumstances existed to "clearly outweigh the harm".

Members approved the scheme on a vote of seven in favour, none against with two abstentions.

The meeting was held at the Civic Suite on Wednesday, June 18.