Welcome to our new monthly newsletter which you can find in the news section on our website. Headlines include:
- Redesignation Approval
- Healthcare meeting update
- Development news
To read our newsletter in full, with more information on the emerging local plan and community actions, just follow the link below.
Redesignation Approval
The Forum’s application for redesignation (Newsletter, November 2025) was approved by the Council’s CPH Climate Change and Planning Decision Session, meeting on 27 November 2025. Such applications have to be renewed every five years. Forum status was last renewed in 2020.
The officer’s report to the Decision Making Session states that, “The Forum’s knowledge that has built up in developing the Plan is now important in helping to secure its successful implementation to achieve the community vision and influence future development in the Neighbourhood area.” It also recognises that, “…it is advantageous that the organisation… is able to continue.”
The full range of activities by the Forum will continue under its new Chair, Nigel Moore. Nigel took over from retiring Chair Roger Cook at the AGM on 12 November 2025.
Healthcare Meeting
Members of the Forum’s planning team recently met representatives from GPS Healthcare, the group that looks after Knowle Surgery. The get-together followed an earlier virtual meeting with the Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board, which is consulted on planning applications and acts as the recipient of healthcare money made available through section 106 contributions from developers.
A comprehensive schedule of prospective housing schemes in KDBH has been sent to GPS Healthcare. The schedule sets out details of approved and emerging schemes that add up to more than 2,000 houses for construction over the next five years or so. The information will help inform decisions on future building plans at medical centres and on the appointment of additional healthcare professionals. Discussions with other local medical practices continue.
Development Consultations
Taylor Wimpey Scheme
The Council’s planning committee has approved (10 December 2025) Taylor Wimpey’s outline scheme for 200 houses at the Arden Triangle, subject to financial contributions towards healthcare, education, playing pitches, highways and tree planting.
Indurent Park, M42 Junction 4, Hockley Heath
In a consultation ending on 23 November 2025, logistics developers Indurent have announced proposals for a “flagship” employment development on a large site at Junction 4 of the M42. The site extends between the motorway junction and Kineton Lane, north of Hockley Heath and just outside the neighbourhood area boundary. Some 980,000 sq ft of industrial, warehousing and office space is proposed with access off Stratford Road and Kineton Lane.
An outline planning application is likely to be submitted to Solihull Council early in 2026. The proposals indicate that a parameter plan will be included showing building zones and heights as well as areas for landscaping and open space.
The Forum has submitted a holding objection. This is a huge Green Belt site that is part of a strategic gap between Solihull and KDBH. It is yet another unplanned and opportunistic development in the vicinity of Hockley Heath where there is the possibility of built development from south of the village, right up to the motorway. The effect on the present countryside and the rural landscape would be devastating.
Indurent Park – Extract from Red Line Plan
Fresh Talks on Hampton Road Site
The Forum was recently consulted on fresh proposals for the development of land at Hampton Road, Knowle. The site is also known as “KN1” from its allocation in the withdrawn Solihull Local Plan 2020. Capacity was then estimated at 198 houses on two parcels of land, one to the west of Hampton Road extending as far as the canal and the other being the site of the Knowle Football Club. Developers Bloor Homes have now taken over discussions on the future of the site.
Housing is still envisaged on the larger part of the site, west of Hampton Road, but the Forum understands that the Knowle Football Club’s site will no longer form part of the scheme. The provision of open space and recreational facilities on the larger site is in the melting-pot. No information on a possible layout has so far been made available.
A possible timescale includes a public consultation exercise at the end of January 2026 and the submission of an outline planning application around Easter.
Arden Triangle – Final Scheme
Members of the Forum’s planning team were invited to a preliminary discussion on the “Gardner land” at the Arden Triangle. This is the last of four sites to come forward at this location. It follows the grant of planning permission for 170 extra-care units by Inspired Villages at Stripes Hill; and for 450 houses by the Kler Group in the south of the Arden Triangle.
This comparatively small site is surrounded on three sides by the Kler Group land. A development of approximately 25 houses by Spitfire Bespoke Homes is in prospect, with vehicular accesses off the Warwick Road frontage. Outline planning permission will be sought next year.
On Street Parking
We need your views on which roads in Knowle experience problematic parking and which roads may benefit from traffic calming measures. Please take just 2 minutes to complete our survey.
Read the newsletter in full:
Additional information on the Emerging Local Plan and Community Actions can be found within our full newsletter.
Christmas Wishes
Finally, we’ll end 2025 wishing a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone in Knowle, Dorridge and Bentley Heath.