Knowle, Dorridge & Bentley Heath Neighbourhood Forum

11/10/2026

Your October newsletter is available online!

🏠New Solihull Local Plan unveiled: more than 1,831 new homes earmarked for Knowle, Dorridge and Bentley Heath, with a six-week public consultation opening soon

🏠What it means for you: a closer look at the proposed sites, from the Arden Triangle to Hampton Road and the land around Dorridge Station

🏠Big questions for the Council: why so much Green Belt, how the gap between Solihull and KDBH will be protected, and whether the 1,000m Dorridge Station zone goes too far

🏠150 homes proposed at Hampton Road: Bloor Homes’ plans for the site opposite Grimshaw Hall, with a planning application expected in November

🏠Forum objects to Birmingham Local Plan: why the city’s failure to help meet Solihull’s housing needs matters for our area
Application news: the Forum’s response to proposals at Broadfern Road, Station Road and Grimshaw Villas

https://www.kdbh-np.org/october-2026-newsletter/

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Your October newsletter from the Forum is here including: New Solihull Local Plan unveiled: more than 1,831 new homes earmarked for Knowle, Dorridge and Bentley Heath, with a six-week public consultation opening soon What it means for you: a closer look at the proposed sites, from the Arden Triangle...

25/09/2026

First Sight of New Local Plan - Uncertain future for Knowle, Dorridge and Bentley Heath

The Forum has had its first sight of the Council’s emerging Local Plan. This follows the publication on Monday evening of the agenda for the Council’s next Cabinet meeting (29 September). The Local Plan will be considered by the Cabinet and then by the full Council on 6 October).

Future proposals mentioned for Knowle, Dorridge and Bentley Heath (KDBH) include:

Up to 845 dwellings on land south of Knowle and west of Warwick Road. This includes all the development that is anticipated at the Arden Triangle.
Policy KN1A: 114 dwellings on land north of Hampton Road, Knowle. This is the site opposite Grimshaw Hall where Bloor Homes have recently consulted on 150 homes.
Policy KN1B: 58 dwellings on land south of Hampton Road, Knowle. This is carried over from the withdrawn Local Plan.
Land around Dorridge Station, identified as a “broad location” – but no details yet. This reflects Government policy that supports, in principle, housing within reasonable walking distance of stations.

In addition to these proposals, the Plan refers to the possibility of “grey belt windfalls”. These are sites in the Green Belt that are already the subject of planning applications. The Council is assuming that a proportion of these will be approved.

A spokesperson for the Forum said, “There are several of these ‘grey belt windfalls’ in KDBH. Which ones are going to be approved? They are all speculative. We are supposed to have a plan-led system. This is a complete abrogation of the Council’s duty to plan, in advance, where future development should take place.

“All of this creates considerable uncertainty. The approval of these applications will have a major impact on our services and infrastructure. In any event, we don’t think that all these developments are necessary. There is plenty of capacity in Birmingham – without building on our Green Belt.”

Once the emerging Plan is approved by the Council, KDBH residents and the Forum will be able to submit representations. These will be taken into account at an examination, to be carried out by an independent Inspector, probably next year.

You can see useful links to documents at https://www.kdbh-np.org/first-sight-of-new-local-plan/

21/09/2026

The Forum has lodged a formal objection to the Birmingham Local Plan. This is because Birmingham’s plan makes no contribution whatsoever towards Solihull’s housing needs.

A spokesperson for the Forum’s planning team said, “It is usual for neighbouring authorities to help each other out when it comes to meeting housing needs across the conurbation. For example, the 2022 Solihull Local Plan (before it was withdrawn) would have contributed
2,000 homes towards wider housing needs. “The situation is now reversed. We estimate that Birmingham could house at least 20,000
homes from nearby boroughs such as Solihull. The City Council has chosen to do nothing. They are waiting to see what another plan – the Spatial Development Strategy for the West Midlands – has to say on the matter".

“We can’t afford to wait. Knowle, Dorridge and Bentley Heath has been inundated with speculative applications for more houses in the Green Belt. There are something like 2,000 houses in the pipeline. That’s about 20% of the total number of houses in KDBH. The
pressure on infrastructure and services will be intolerable.”

An examination of the Birmingham Local Plan before an independent Planning Inspector is expected next year.

10/09/2026

Consultation on land at Hampton Road – 150 new homes planned

Housing developers Bloor Homes are proposing to build 150 new homes on a site at Hampton Road, Knowle. The site (known as KN1A) is opposite Grimshaw Hall and is the bigger part of an allocation made by Solihull Council in its withdrawn Local Plan. The allocation is expected to be repeated when details of the new version of the Local Plan become public later this month.

Bloor Homes have just started a public consultation exercise. This follows preliminary talks with the Forum. Members of the Planning Team were shown a copy of the proposed masterplan for the site. Following consultation, a planning application is likely to be made to the Council in November.

The scheme includes two big changes from earlier proposals. The Knowle Football Club site (the smaller of the original allocations) is no longer part of the scheme; and the land up to the canal won’t be laid out as playing fields but will remain in agricultural use.

The consultation is open until 2 October 2026.

Image: Bloor Homes' Consultation flyer.

04/09/2026

Our September 2026 newsletter is now online!

🏠Key changes to the National Planning Policy Framework published August 9th
🏠News on local planning applications (Blue Lake Road, Spitfire Bespoke Homes, Arden Triangle, Inspired Villages, Stripes Hill)
🏠Sports hub survey results

Read all about it at

Welcome to our September 2026 newsletter. In this issue you’ll find: Key changes to the National Planning Policy Framework published August 9th News on local planning applications (Blue Lake Road, Spitfire Bespoke Homes, Arden Triangle, Inspired Villages, Stripes Hill) Sports hub survey results

26/08/2026

Delivery of five Sports Hubs across the Borough, including one within Knowle, Dorridge and Bentley Heath (KDBH), is part of Solihull Council’s Draft Infrastructure Delivery Plan – but no site has been identified. Pitches for many types of outdoor sport such as football, rugby, hockey, netball, tennis and cricket are all envisaged.

Our survey aimed to get views on the most popular location for a new sports hub. Nearly 300 responses were received, with 71% in favour of a new hub. Responses to the Forum’s survey of sports hub locations have now been counted. Arden Academy was the clear favourite (42%) with land at the back of Dorridge Cricket Club coming in second place (17%).

Announcing the results, Forum Chair Nigel Moore said, “We would prefer any new facilities to be concentrated at one site in KDBH, rather than spread around a number of locations.”

The results will now be sent to local councillors.

Read more at https://www.kdbh-np.org/sports-hub-survey-results/

19/08/2026

Blue Lake Road - Forum slams Highway's Comments

In comments on the Blue Lake Road planning application (for up to 350 new homes), the Forum has criticised comments by the Council’s own highways department – which now has “no objections” to the scheme.

A spokesperson for the Forum’s planning team said, “I don’t think the highways officer has even read our comments. Certainly, there’s no response to the comments that we made when the application was first submitted.”

Amongst the Forum’s concerns are:

- No account taken of other schemes in the pipeline, like Golden End Farms (300 homes) and Widney Manor Road (285 homes).
- Unacceptable pressure on existing road junctions – such as the Grove Road / Station Road roundabout and the Lady Byron Lane / Warwick Road junction.
“Sustainability” of the site’s location has been exaggerated.
- The infrastructure improvements envisaged under the scheme are totally inadequate.

The planning application will be decided by the Council’s Planning Committee in the next few weeks.

The Forum’s comments on the planning application – both the original comments and the comments of the response by the highway department - can be viewed on our Forum Responses page: https://www.kdbh-np.org/planning/forum-responses/

11/08/2026

It may be the summer holidays, but there’s still much in the August newsletter including:

🏠Solihull Council’s Green Belt Review
🏠An overview of major developments around Knowle, Dorridge and Bentley Heath
🏠Visit Knowle’s brand new App

It may be the summer holidays, but there’s still much in the August newsletter including: Solihull Council’s Green Belt Review An overview of major developments around Knowle, Dorridge and Bentley Heath Visit Knowle’s brand new App

20/07/2026

It's not too late! We need your views on a Sports Hub for Knowle, Dorridge & Bentley Heath

As part of the community infrastructure levy monies arising from current housing development proposals, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council is proposing to provide a new Sports Hub in Knowle, Dorridge and Bentley Heath.

There is no exact definition of what a Sports Hub should provide but the Council stated that approximately seven hectares per site was required. KDBH Neighbourhood Forum believe it should be a multi-sports facility, with grass and artificial playing surfaces, possible floodlights, changing / toilets facility and car parking.

The question is where should this go? We would love your feedback, so please fill in this quick survey 👇

As part of the community infrastructure levy monies arising from current housing development proposals, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council is proposing to provide a new Sports Hub in Knowle, Dorridge and Bentley Heath. There is no exact definition of what a Sports Hub should provide but the Counc...

18/07/2026

We've commissioned Ethos Environmental Planning to carry out an open space assessment 📋

We want to understand more about how you use and value your local public open spaces and recreation facilities, as well as what might improve their attractiveness to local people 🌳

You can share your views here: https://loom.ly/AlpmzG4

Please complete the online survey to tell us:
- how often you use open spaces
- what you would like to see more of
- where spaces could be improved

You can also use the interactive map to leave comments about specific open spaces in your area 🗺️

The consultation will close on Friday 11 September 2026.