Residents are being given the chance to have their say on plans for up to 80 new homes in Balsall Common.

Developer Catesby Strategic Land Ltd is behind the plans and highlights it could bring up to 40 new affordable homes.

But objectors have raised the potential impact on the historic 200-year-old Berkswell Windmill nearby.

The developer has applied to Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council for outline permission for the homes on land off Windmill Lane as well as a means of access into the site.

In a planning statement planning agents Tor & Co says: "The application site extends to approximately 5.02 hectares (12.4 acres), adjacent to existing residential development.

"The site comprises a series of linked fields of various shapes and sizes.

"The site is not located within or adjacent to a conservation area.

"The closest designated heritage asset is the Grade II listed Berkswell Windmill located 113m to the southeast of the site.

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"The proposed development aims to deliver up to 80 high quality homes, offering a mix of sizes and tenures. The application proposal includes the provision of 50 per cent affordable housing.

"The site should be considered as grey belt (green belt land suitable for housing).

"However, in the event the decision maker concludes the application site is not grey belt, the applicant considers very special circumstances exist which clearly outweigh the harm arising to the green belt."

Jeanette McGarry, owner of Berkswell Windmill, is among those who have raised concerns including that the development would interfere with windflow which would prevent the windmill sails from turning.

"Berkswell Windmill is one of only a handful of working windmills in the UK," she wrote in her objection.

"The site regularly floods.

"Further the only entrance/exit is in Windmill Lane – this must be moved. Intolerable traffic cumulative will occur."

A consultation is now underway with a closing date for submissions of March 9.

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