They are among the Midlands' most scenic places to live – but three leafy villages are officially set to become a town.

Concerned residents have been reassured the move will benefit them in the long-term by making it more difficult for developers to build on green belt land.

Knowle, Dorridge and Bentley Heath are set to become a single settlement defined as a town, while Balsall Common would also become a town if the changes are finalised. 

A senior councillor stressed the move was for "planning purposes" and residents could continue to call the areas they live in villages. 

At a Solihull Council meeting, Cllr Andy Mackiewicz called it a "bit of history being made". 

Officer Emma Tinsley-Evans explained: "Whether a settlement is a town or a village now has consequences for the purposes of planning green belt policy and whether land is potentially grey belt. 

"The guidance which was recently updated specifically states, for the first time, that large built-up areas don't include villages."

The officer said their research took into account factors such as population and the services and facilities typically found in towns or villages and had led to their judgement on the four areas. 

She described the village of Dickens Heath as a "slight anomaly" with services and a population on the cusp of what would be considered a small town – but had not been included in their assessment.

Cllr Mackiewicz said: "I want to make it clear regardless whether we classify Knowle, Dorridge and Bentley Heath as a town – Dorridge village still exists if you want to call it Dorridge village."

Officer Mark Andrews, the council's head of planning, design and engagement services, added: "What we are trying to focus on is how you would designate these settlements for the purpose of planning considerations.

"So there is an acceptance residents refer to the place they live in a different way".  

The government has committed to building 1.5 million homes nationally by 2029 and introduced the concept of lower quality green belt land being designated "grey belt" as a way to do this. 

Cllr Samanthan Gethen asked for clarity on what the change would mean for building on the borough's green belt.

Ms Tinsley-Evans replied: "If something is a town the key purpose of green belt is to prevent neighbouring towns from merging. 

"So if we have Knowle, Dorridge and Balsall Common (as a town) green belt in between those areas would serve a strong purpose in preventing those towns from merging.

"Currently they are villages and villages aren't given any status in terms of green belt policy."

The portfolio holder added: "There is a danger vast amounts of Solihull would be grey belt so, by putting this in, we are putting in some protection around our larger settlements." 

The new definition was agreed and there will be a six-week consultation for residents to have their say.