Ken Hawkins

Taylor Wimpey is consulting on a proposed development they will be submitting a planning application for. Hares Croft is the name of the development and is on land off Dog Kennel Lane. The proposals are for 732 new homes. There is also provision for a two-form entry primary school, as well as village centre.

I would prefer the development not to take place as I used to go and pick strawberries on the farm. However, the site forms most of site BL2 within the draft Solihull Local Development Plan. This plan has yet to be adopted but the principle of development on this site is established. The planning inspector has agreed that Solihull needs to identify 15,000 new homes in its local plan (some neighbouring authorities pleaded to him we needed an extra 6000 more). It seems he has accepted the plan in general, apart from the capacity to develop the numbers of homes on the NEC site and issues surrounding one site in Knowle.

Taylor Wimpey will be holding a public consultation event on Tuesday 1st November 2022 from 2pm until 7.30pm at Village Hotel, Solihull. The Green Business Park, Dog Kennel Lane, Shirley, B90 4JG.

For those unable to attend, Taylor Wimpey will be also running an online public consultation. To access this, please visit: https://www.taylorwimpey.co.uk/new-homes/solihull/hares-croft The online public consultation will be live from Monday 10th October 2022 and will run until Friday 18th November 2022.

The site is referred to in the Solihull Local Plan – Draft Submission Plan from page 177: 

You will notice the likely infrastructure requirements identified will include:

1. New 2-form primary school and early years.
2. Developer contributions to primary care health services in the vicinity and appropriate UHB secondary care services in the wider CCG catchment.
3. Flood alleviation measures in the form of above ground SUDs features and potential betterment for the Mount Brook tributary of the River Blythe.
4. Highway improvements as required including and access improvements along Dog Kennel Lane.
5. Appropriate measures to promote and enhance sustainable modes of transport including bus services improvements and pedestrian and cycle connectivity towards Dickens Heath, the Stratford Road and Shirley Town Centre, in accordance with the Council’s LCWIP.

However, one issue that is not the responsibility of the developer is that of Primary Care provision. It is vital the local NHS Commissioning board makes clear their plans for new housing developments. We should not wait until residents move in to ascertain what services will be necessary and how they will be provided.

I have also mentioned other requirements in my meeting with Taylor Wimpey.

I would recommend people to attend the public consultation at The Village Hotel on 1 November. I will update you when I receive more information. I would also value your comments.