KDBH Neighbourhood Forum News Flash
Only the other day, in our special decennial newsletter, we were reporting that 1,743 new houses were being planned for Knowle, Dorridge and Bentley Heath. In what seems like a relentless onslaught, the total has already topped 2,000.
The Forum has already reported in our Decennial newsletter on the following proposals:
Arden Triangle: Inspired Villages 170 units, Taylor Wimpey 200 houses, Kler Group 450 houses, Gardner land 40 houses
Wyndley Garden Centre 85 units
Hampton Road 198 houses
Blue Lake Road 350 houses
Golden End Farms 250 houses
Total 1,743 homes
We are now aware of two more consultations in advance of yet further planning applications. These are for 22 dwellings at ‘Blacksmith’s Fold, 1761 Warwick Road, Knowle and for around 300 houses on land at Widney Manor Road/Smiths Lane.
Chairman of the Forum Roger Cook commented “In the space of just a couple of years, the plans for yet more houses keep on coming. The number of houses on large sites being proposed in KDBH is now more than 2000 and that doesn’t include any on smaller sites. This is just not acceptable. Our infrastructure and services will be stretched beyond the limit, not to mention the destruction of our cherished villages.”
The “new” schemes (those for 20 or more houses) are described below.
Call for Action
In line with our Decennial Newsletter, residents are urged to submit their views to the developer consultations and also contact their councillors and MP. Bring to their attention the unprecedented damage that is likely to occur should so many new homes be built in KDBH.
1761 Warwick Road, Knowle (Blacksmith’s Fold)
This is a scheme for 22 dwellings, half of which would be affordable housing, on a site at 1762 Warwick Road. A lawnmower repair workshop on the Warwick Road frontage would be demolished to allow access to an open area of land that lies behind Warwick Road and Wilson’s Road / Kenilworth Road (Cook Close).
Local residents (and the Forum) were invited to a “site visit” on 14 July 2025. Representatives from the developers were on hand to explain their proposals in greater detail. A planning application is expected to be made in the autumn.
A leaflet illustrating the initial proposals and describing the scheme is copied below:
Widney Manor Road
This scheme relates to land at Widney Manor Road on the borders of Bentley Heath. Smith’s Lane runs around the outside boundary of the site but access would be taken off Widney Manor Road. Some 300 houses are proposed, again including affordable housing.
The prospective developers have launched a consultation exercise. This will run until 8 August 2025.
