Proposals for more homes on village’s green belt
By Sam Greenway - Local Democracy Reporter 7th Oct 2025
By Sam Greenway - Local Democracy Reporter 7th Oct 2025

Proposals for more new homes on green belt in a Solihull village have been submitted to planners.
Applicant Bordeaux Estates wants to demolish a business premises on land known as Blacksmith's Fold in Warwick Road, Knowle.
The applicant's plans, submitted to Solihull Council in September, are for 22 new homes with half of them affordable on just over one hectares of land.
A planning statement submitted to the authority says: "The planning application seeks outline planning permission for the demolition of existing buildings and the construction of up to 22 dwellings together with associated drainage, open space and infrastructure.
"The site is located in a sustainable location for development, there are no constraints associated with the site that cannot be appropriately mitigated, and the illustrative masterplan for the site's development will respond sensitively to the site's context to provide much-needed housing."
The applicant argues the site can be considered grey belt – low quality green belt land which allows for housing – as it meets a required 'golden rules' test.
Bordeaux Estates adds: "A public consultation exercise has been carried out with the local community and key stakeholders prior to the submission of this planning application.
"Feedback received throughout this consultation has assisted in the development of the final illustrative proposals presented in this application.
"This has included retention and enhancement of hedgerow boundaries; a vegetation buffer between existing and proposed development and clarification on offsetting of development within parameters for future design."
Matters such as layout, scale, landscaping and appearance of the dwellings would form a 'reserved matters' application which would need to be submitted at a later date if Solihull planners give the go-ahead.
It is the latest application affecting the village which has a population of around 11,000.
As the Local Democracy Reporting Service has previously reported plans are already in the pipeline for 250 to 300 homes on current agricultural land off Kenilworth Road in Knowle.
The authority is also considering joining Knowle, Dorridge and Bentley Heath together as a single settlement defined as a town in planning terms, as a way of protecting the green belt.
Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council has launched its own public consultation on the latest proposal which runs until October 30.
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