In a letter to Solihull’s Head of Planning Design and Engagement, Blythe ward Councillors, Ken Hawkins, Richard Holt and Keith Green have called for a major planning application in Dickens Heath to be withdrawn.
An application for 450 new homes was submitted in December 2023 by Richborough Estates and the have still to come up with a plan to relocate the sports clubs that will be lost because houses will be built on land they currently use. Clubs affected are Old Yardlians Rugby club, Highgate United football club and Wychall Wanderersfootball club. For any application to succeed there needs to be a plan for the relocation of sports clubs to at least as good a standard as they are at present.
Cllr Hawkins said ‘These three sports clubs are a vital amenity for the communities of Dickens Heath and Tidbury Green and that the applicants have failed to come up with a plan as to how they will relocate these clubs after almost 12 months is very disappointing. I can not understand why such an application was submitted without this important condition being resolved’.
The land in question forms part of site BL1 within the draft Local Development Plan submitted to the planning inspectorate and although the overall plan is to be withdrawn, the application is still to be determined.
Cllr Hawkins continued ‘We are not opposed to any development whatsoever and can help shape some other applications in the ward. However, this issue has been ongoing for almost 12 months and now is the time for the applicants to withdraw their application and review the situation’.
Photo attached: Cllrs Ken Hawkins and Keith Green outside Old Yardlians Rugby Club, Tilehouse Lane.
Ken Hawkins 