Residents of two picturesque villages have been giving their views on the radical plans which could see hundreds of new homes being built in their area.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) recently visited Dorridge and Knowle, two villages which made national headlines in a new attempt to resist building on huge swaths of the green belt. 

The government has a commitment to build 1.5 million homes nationally during this parliament with Solihull given a target of 8,500.

A new grey belt concept was introduced reclassifying some green belt land as lower quality to enable house building. 

This has led to various developers bringing forward plans to build on green belt surrounding the two villages.

For example developer Bloor Homes has unveiled proposals to build 350 homes on land in Blue Lake Road, Dorridge, while there are plans for hundreds of homes on agricultural land off Kenilworth Road in Knowle.

Steven, a Dorridge pensioner, said: "We know we are short of houses, although there are lots that are empty (that could be lived in).

"I have lived in Dorridge for years. I have noticed traffic and everything else has increased quite a lot.

"More people is going to affect that. 

"They are trying to build in areas with existing schools, existing NHS services because they won't have to create so much, to save money."

As first reported by the LDRS earlier this year, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council moved to combine Knowle, Dorridge and Bentley Heath as a single settlement.

This move was done so the green belt has a purpose of stopping the three villages from merging, as they will be treated as a town in planning terms.

"I'm very much a green belt person – it was one of the main reasons my parents moved here originally – it's a beautiful area," the pensioner said.

"We (the villagers) are together anyway. If that has to be, it has to be."

Another resident said: "It's busy enough as it is without new homes, it's everywhere (the pressure) on all the roads."

Meanwhile in Knowle the LDRS saw lengthy queues on roads around the High Street.

A resident said: "I've seen new shops opening which is great, but parking is an issue. People can't find parking spots."

But he said that as long as it wasn't "overwhelming" on local infrastructure he would support new homes being built.

And on the merger he added: "I think it will be OK, I'm open minded on that stuff."

A worker in a High Street shop said: "It's all becoming one big town. 

"It will be sad losing the green belt, but that is going to happen now."

A villager told us: "I'm assuming the council and planners will have done due diligence (for the new homes).

"I have lived elsewhere so have concerns on building on flood plain areas where water would normally build up."

He added the merger "made sense" as the villages are already connected.

Another resident said: "I don't really care (if they build the homes) – if it needs to be done, it needs to be done."

And a shopkeeper quipped: "We are already very busy for Christmas.

"If new homes mean more business for us we welcome it."