Hundreds of villagers have been left disappointed after planners gave the go-ahead for 99 new homes in Hockley Heath.

The new estate, proposed to be built on green belt land south of School Road, had seen more than 200 objections in a public consultation including from Hockley Heath Parish Council and MP Saqib Bhatti.

Applicant Nurton Developments Ltd is behind the plans for the home which includes a mix of one, two, three and four bedroom properties as well as five and six unit apartments.

Campaigners took the battle to the latest meeting of Solihull Council's planning committee on May 27.

School Road resident Stuart Swinton, representing Hockley Heath Action Group, spoke at the meeting.

He said their 300 strong group was made up of villagers concerned over the "deluge of speculative planning applications" in the village.

"School Road is a narrow country road where cars can barely pass each other," he said, showing an image to councillors.

"Residents have a deep concern about road safety in the village.

"There have been two children related accidents next to the school (Tudor Grange) in recent years.

"There are currently four active planning applications and two identified sites on School Road alone – totalling 202 dwellings.

"This will generate an additional, unsustainable 1,400 vehicle trips a day onto School Road."

Hockley Heath Parish Council vice chairman Sarah Quinton said: "Hockley Heath is a small village, has limited public transport infrastructure, no rail and limited bus connectivity.

"A secondary school already oversubscribed and a primary school at capacity."

Ward councillor Sally Tomlinson said: "Given the 99 houses and all existing applications we feel it is premature to suggest Hockley Heath can take all this additional housing without a full infrastructure review."

And Councillor Max McLoughlin said the site was in an "unsustainable location for housing of this scale", and a generation of car-dependent residents would be locked in at the site.

But Caroline Chave, from planning agents Chave Planning, highlighted that council planning officers had recommended the scheme be approved and there were "generous" contributions the applicant would make to improve local infrastructure.

"The scheme will deliver a traffic calming and pedestrian safety scheme to School Road with pedestrian crossings," the agent said.

In the debate Councillor James Bradley raised that the parish council was undertaking an infrastructure review.

Officer Mark Andrews, the council's head of planning, design and engagement service, said: "Purely for this application it needs to be stressed the parish council does not have a neighbourhood plan so we aren't able to give material weight to that."

Cllr Simon Coles asked about very special circumstances as officers in their report had said the applicant had put forward a "comprehensive case of very special circumstances for the proposed development" which outweighed harm to the green belt.

Planning officer Becky Matravers explained: "In terms of the positive benefits, substantial weight is attributed to the delivery of affordable and market housing.

"Moderate weight is attributed to the economic benefits of the scheme.

"And then there is additional, moderate weight attached to the delivery of education, health, sports provision benefits."

Councillors also heard the land had been proposed for housing in the authority's local plan before that was withdrawn.

When the vote was held councillors voted unanimously to approve the application, subject to conditions.

Issues such as the layout, scale, and appearance of the dwellings will form a 'reserved matters' application which the applicant will now need to submit with outline permission granted.