'We no longer feel like a village’ concerned residents against 95 new homes plan

Sam Greenway
·2-min read
Proposed plans for the homes in Catherine De Barnes.
-Credit: (Image: Pegasus/Solihull Council)


A proposal for 95 new homes on green belt land in Catherine De Barnes will go before Solihull planners next week. Council officers are recommending the proposed scheme on farm land in Oak Farm on Hampton Lane is given the go-ahead, but residents have raised concerns.

In a report to Solihull Council ’s planning committee officers highlight the land is identified as a potential site for up to 100 dwellings within the authority’s local plan review. The outline application from applicants Cala (Cotswolds) Limited and Minton Care has been submitted to determine if a proposed development is generally acceptable to the authority.

If approved final plans are then expected to be brought to the committee at a later date. Officers write in their report: “The applicant has demonstrated that very special circumstances exist to clearly outweigh the harm caused to the green belt in this location.

READ MORE: Historic hotel refused permission for wedding marquee

“The proposal represents an acceptable scheme that will deliver a significant amount of housing on a proposed allocated housing site.” But a number of objections have been submitted to the council including from Hampton-in-Arden Parish Council.

Among the objections of residents are:

  • Increase of traffic

  • Lack of general infrastructure including a GP service or school

  • Significant reduction in ‘openness’ of the area

  • ‘We no longer feel like a village’ concerns shared

  • Wider area has already been subjected to large amounts of development including HS2

-Credit:Copyright Unknown
-Credit:Copyright Unknown

Officers recommend approval subject to conditions and completion of a section 106 agreement. Among the conditions proposed are that the details for the scale, layout, external appearance of the development, as well as the landscaping of the site, have to be submitted to the authority for approval before work gets underway.

The scheme will go before the next meeting of the committee being held next Wednesday, September 11, at the Civic Suite. The meeting starts at 6pm and is open to the public.

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