Residents' Survey results and representations
Forum Responses to Planning applications and appeals
It is important to understand that, in most cases, the planning process allows only three weeks for responses to new planning applications to be submitted to Solihull Council (SMBC). This is a challenging enough timeframe for the NF volunteer team to become aware of and assess the application, and then provide a considered and carefully thought through response. It does not, unfortunately, allow time for community consultation.
Fortunately, the adopted KDBH Neighbourhood Plan (NP), approved at Referendum by 96% of KDBH community voters, provides a legitimate, robust and objective basis for all NF responses, with supporting reference as appropriate to associated Planning Legislation. NF responses are therefore objective, ie. not based on opinion; and, as far as is possible, consistent, recognising that every application must be assessed on its own merits.
The process for creating a response is: the NF’s Planning Advisor provides planning policy guidance; other members of the Forum team can give their input; a draft response is created for final review prior to signature and issue to SMBC by the Forum Chair. All Forum planning application responses are made available on the NF website - see below.
NF quarterly meetings with SMBC provide an opportunity to review how the NP is being applied in determining planning decisions. The Resident Associations can also feed in to the NF any points they wish to raise with SMBC relating to their own planning application responses.
2022
22 August 2022
Response to Prior Notification Reference PL/2022/010544/PN
Grass verge between Warwick Road and the A4141 approaching Knowle village
Prior notification for a 5G telecoms installation necessitating a H3G 20m Street Pole and additional equipment and cabinets
17 August 2022
Response to Planning Application Reference (PL/2022/00064/PPFL)
St Johns Way Shopping Centre (Knowle Precinct) - amended proposals
8 February 2022
Initial Response to Planning Application Reference (PL/2022/00064/PPFL)
St John’s Way Shopping Centre (Knowle Precinct)
Proposals to undertake refurbishment and upgrade to provide: 17 retail outlets; 28 first floor residential apartments; formation of a second floor providing 19 residential apartments; car parking; and demolition of the existing over passes.
This major and high profile development for Knowle is likely to require a little more time to finalise than most planning applications - more details in our February 2022 Newsletter.
9 August 2022
Response to Resubmission of Planning Application Reference PL/2022/00462/MINFOT
Lodge Croft, Knowle
Two storey office building
6 April 2021
Response to Planning Application Reference PL/2021/00422/MINFOT
Land at Lodge Croft, Knowle
Erect a two storey office building in the Knowle Conservation Area immediately adjacent to protected local green space allotments
1 August 2022
Response to Planning Application Reference PL/2022/01356/PPFL
Widney Evangelical Free Church, Widney Road, Bentley Heath, B93 9BN
Demolition of Vacant Church Hall and Development of 3 Town Houses
28 February 2022
Response to Resubmission of Planning Application Reference PL202101477PPFL
Erection of 4 x 3 bedroom three storey dwellings on the site of the existing unused Church
2 September 2021
Update to the Response to Planning Application: Reference PL/2021/01477/PPFL
Widney Evangelical Free Church, Widney Road, Bentley Heath, B93 9BN
Demolition of vacant church hall and development of 4 town houses
5 July 2021
Response to Planning Application: Reference PL/2021/01477/PPFL
Widney Evangelical Free Church, Widney Road, Bentley Heath, B93 9BN
Demolition of vacant church hall and development of 4 town houses
28 February 2022
Response to Planning Application Reference PL/2022/00069/COU
Land Adjacent Yew Tree Cottage, Box Trees Road, Dorridge
Change of use from land for equestrian use to holiday caravan site (13 pitches)
4 January 2022
Representation to Planning Committee, Planning Application PL/2021/01000/MINFOT
2 Station Approach, Dorridge, B93 8JF
On 23 December, we were made aware that Council papers published for a Planning Committee meeting on 5 January 2022 included 34 pages relating to this case, with a recommendation to approve. Our urgent request to the Council to delay given Christmas and New Year holidays was refused; we were informed that representations must be in by noon on 4 January. We did respond by the deadline, at significant cost to holiday time. Also, given more time, we would have wished to clarify certain points, and in particular give transparency to the many comments and emails the Forum has received supporting the objection.
On 5 January, the majority of Planning Committee Members (but not all) voted to approve the application (on-line proceedings here, starting at 11:15 minutes). From the proceedings we note:
-
the Agent’s statement that in hindsight “the applicant deeply regrets not having completed the development in accordance with the 2017 approved plans”
-
the Chair of the Planning Committee’s summing up comments that ‘the way this has been handled by the applicant over the years has caused a great deal of angst’ and that he ‘must adhere to what is approved and not go off at a tangent to do your own thing.’
The development must conform with the terms and approved plans and be implemented within 4 months. The Council has also advised us that “We are keeping the Planning Enforcement case open until the requirements of the conditions have been met, and will carry out visits to ensure that they are.”
17 December 2021
Response to Planning Application PL/2021/01000/MINFOT
2 Station Approach, Dorridge, B93 8JF
Further to our 10 May 2021 response, on 10 December we received notification of final consultation from the Council, with a shortened timeframe to respond by 20 December.
10 May 2021
Response to Planning Application PL/2021/01000/MINFOT
2 Station Approach, Dorridge, B93 8JF (see also related APP/Q4625/C/19/3223403 below)
Construction of timber framed single storey extensions plus first floor extension, cladding of structure, forming of new timber fencing to boundary, alterations to fenestration, erection of railings, change of use to drinking establishment with extended food provision (Sui Generis). Partly retrospective.
7 October 2020
Planning Inspector Decision: Appeal Ref: APPP/Q4625/C/19/3223403 Dismissed
2 Station Approach, Dorridge
28 October 2020
We are aware of recent posts on the Skogen website. The Forum refutes the allegations made, both about it and against our Chairperson.
For transparency, we post all our planning application responses to the Council on this webpage. Through the links above you can read: the Forum's position regarding objections to the Planning Inspector, noting in particular the 'General Context' section; the Council's Statement of Case; and the Planning Inspector's full report.
For clarification, we re-state here a short extract from our response:
"In shaping our response to this Appeal, the NF firstly wants to make is absolutely clear that it is not against Skogen as a business. There is no intent or campaign to close it down: on the contrary, the NF would see it as an asset, if brought in line with the approved plans. Since the NP in principle supports appropriately designed new developments and welcomes the economic benefits such schemes can bring, the NF very much regrets the course of events leading to the current situation”.
"The NF cannot accept or condone: disregard of the planning permission (PL/2017/00988/COU); failure to adhere to the approved plans and conditions; the built scheme contravening important policies both in the KDBH NP and SMBC’s Local Plan."
It is worth noting also that:
-
the public appeal hearing scheduled for March was cancelled due to Covid-19
-
the Planning Inspectorate is entirely independent and reaches its own conclusions having all the evidence before it.
With the Council’s Local Plan proposals for large scale development in our Area about to ‘hit the road’, this decision will hopefully reduce instances of planning permission being granted for one thing, then being built differently in the expectation that a retrospective planning application will be 'nodded through'.
23 December 2019
Response to Planning Appeal Ref: APPP/Q4625/C/19/3223403
Re Planning Application Ref: PL/2017/00988/COU
Location: 2 Station Approach, Dorridge
Solihull's Statement of Case of the Local Planning Authority
2021
21 December 2021
Wyndley Garden Centre, Warwick Road, Knowle, B93 0DX - Appeal
Demolition of the existing garden centre and associated buildings, and erection of an extra care facility
On 17 December 2021, we became aware that the Council had issued a notification of appeal for this site, with any further comments arising from the Appellant’s Statement of Case (or associated documents) to be submitted by 22 December.
Aware of the growing residents’ petition against the proposals, we therefore had to respond very quickly. Although largely content to rely upon our October 2020 objection, we submitted a short update on 21 December highlighting a couple of points arising, but otherwise re-iterating our wholehearted support for the Council’s reasons for refusal. We now await the Inquiry, scheduled for 11 March 2022.
21 October 2020
Response to Planning Application PL/2020/01993/PPFL
Wyndley Garden Centre, Warwick Road, Knowle, Solihull, B93 0DX
Following a detailed review of the planning application, the Forum has submitted a strong objection.
5 November 2021
Appeal Ref: APP/Q4625/W/21/3273047 (Apple Green) linked to APP/Q4625/W/21/3275290 (Extra)
Motorway Services Station (MSA), M42, Junction 4 (Dorridge)
The promoters for both schemes (the other being Catherine de Barnes) have appealed the Planning Committee's decision to refuse both proposals. The Independent Inspector’s inquiry ran from 12 October - 5 November 2021, with proceedings live-streamed on the Council’s YouTube channel. Link to the final day of the inquiry. You can get a sense of how things went by going to the closing statements from all parties. The Council’s 40 minute closing submission, starting at 52:50 minutes, clearly sets out why both proposals must be rejected as ‘wholly unacceptable’. We await news on a final decision.
9 October 2020
Planning Application PL/2016/02754/MAJFOT
Motorway Service Station at Junction 4 of M42 (off Gate Lane, Dorridge)
Applegreen has submitted a further, updated planning application, full details of which can be read on the Council's website Here (There is so much information that it may be slow to load).
Having again reviewed the details, the Forum has restated its strong objection in our response Here
Dorridge Ward Councillor Ken Meeson's objection Here
The Forum's response to the original planning application on 22/11/2016 is Here
1 July 2021
Response to Planning Application: PL/2021/01609/PN
Telecommunications Mast Widney Road Bentley Heath Solihull
Prior Notification for a 18.0m Phase 8 monopole c/w wrapround cabinet at base and associated ancillary works
6 April 2021
Response to Planning Application PL/2021/00696/TPO
89 Manor Road, Dorridge, B93 8TT
Remove oak tree (T1) subject to a Tree Protection Order and replace with silver birch or similar
4 March 2021
Response to Solihull Council Consultation on 'Residential Backland Development'
In February 2021, the Council launched a new consultation on draft guidelines for ‘Backland Development’. This type of development has been a notable feature in KDBH over recent years, a typical example being erection of one or two big houses in the rear garden of large plots in a residential area (called tandem development). In some cases, this is giving rise to neighbour objections and adversely affecting local character.
19 February 2021
Response to Planning Application: PL/2021/00205/TPO 225
225 Mill Lane, Bentley Heath, B93 8NU
Fell 1 No. Oak Tree at Front Right Hand Corner of Property
February / March 2021
Arden Triangle: Removal on Trees on the Council's Proposed Development Site
On 1 February 2021, a number of concerned residents contacted the Knowle Society and the Forum having seen trees being felled around Lansdowne House, Knowle. This understandably rang alarm bells given previous experience (see our Facebook posts 6-8 November 2017). On 4 February, the Forum formally raised the matter to the Council, with various subsequent communications, see links below, to understand the process followed both in this particular case, and also more generally regarding removal of trees with a TPO.
1. SMBC to Forum, 4/2/21 2. Forum to SMBC, 4/2/21 3. SMBC to Forum, 12/2/21 4. Forum to SMBC, 1/3/21
26 January 2021
Planning Application PL/2020/02541/PPOL
65, Knowle Wood Road, Dorridge, Solihull B93 8JP
Outline application for access and layout (appearance, landscaping and scale to be reserved) for the demolition of existing dwelling, building ancillary to dwelling & garage and the erection of 3 No. 5 bedroom houses, garaging and associated parking.
Decision: Planning Permission Refused
22 December 2020
Objection to Planning Application PL/2020/02541/PPOL
65, Knowle Wood Road, Dorridge, Solihull B93 8JP
Outline application for access and layout (appearance, landscaping and scale to be reserved) for the demolition of existing dwelling, building ancillary to dwelling & garage and the erection of 3 No. 5 bedroom houses, garaging and associated parking.
21 May 2020
Response to Planning Application PL/2020/00439/PPFL
Location: 65, Knowle Wood Road, Dorridge, Solihull B93 8JP
Demolition of existing dwelling, ancillary dwelling, garages and erection of apartments and associated parking. It is a third submission for the proposed development that has previously been refused by Solihull Council, now for 7 rather than 8 apartments.
Decision: Planning Permission Refused
2020
17 November 2020
Objection to PL/2020/01596/PPFL, The Chase, Smiths Lane, Knowle, B93 9AD
The previous approved application related to converting the property, ie. largely maintaining the character and setting. In contrast, this new application relates to redevelopment, ie. demolition and rebuild. Here
16 September 2020
4) Forum Statement to Planning Committee for PL/2020/01408/PN (Vodafone Mast)
This application went to Solihull Planning Committee on September 16 when a Forum representative attended as objector.
Decision: Planning Application Approved
24 July 2020
3) Prior Notification PL/2020/01408/PN (Vodafone Mast)
Location: Land off Conker Lane, off Manor Road, Dorridge, B93 8SN.
Installation of an 18 metre lattice mast (Total Height 21 metres) with 6 No. antennas and 1 No. 600mm dish
and 1 No. 300mm dish, 3 No. equipment cabinets and 1 No. meter cabinet enclosed in a secure compound
measuring 5.2m x 8m
Full Planning Application here
2 June 2020
2) VF13274 Vodafone Installation of 5G base station, Supplementary Response
Location: Land off Conker Lane, off Manor Road, Dorridge, B93 8SN.
28 April 2020
1) VF13274 Vodafone Installation of 5G base station, Pre-Application Consultation Response
Location: Land off Conker Lane, off Manor Road, Dorridge, B93 8SN.
28 August 2020
Prior Notification PL/2020/01693/PN (EE Mast)
Location: Road Vergeside Land, Widney Manor Road, Solihull
Installation of a 20 metre telecommunications Phase 8 monopole with wrap around cabin built round
the base and 4 no. ground based equipment cabinets and ancillary development thereto
22 July 2020
4) Forum Statement to Planning Committee for PL/2020/00411/PPFL
Location: 25 Station Road, Knowle, Solihull B93 0HL
This application went to Solihull Planning Committee on July 22 when a Forum representative attended as objector.
Decision: Planning Application Approved.
1 July 2020
28 May 2020
2) Supplementary Response to Planning Application PL/2020/00411/PPFL
Location: 25 Station Road, Knowle, Solihull B93 0HL
18 March 2020
1) Response to Planning Application PL/2020/00411/PPFL
Location: 25 Station Road, Knowle, Solihull B93 0HL
13 July 2020
Response to Prior Notification Application Number PL/2020/01360/PN
Location: 1806 Warwick Road, Knowle (Lansdowne House)
9 July 2020
Response to Planning Application PL2020 01274 PPFL
Location: 2 and 3 Bushwood Drive, Dorridge
Demolition of existing dwelling, erection of 3 detached dwellings and one detached garage
27 November 2019
Response to Planning Application Ref: PL/2019/02619/MINFDW
Location: 46 Avenue Road, Dorridge
The Council has previously refused an application on this site in 2018 for the erection of one new dwelling and alterations / extensions to the existing dwelling under application PL/2018/02209/PPFL.
Decision: Approved
19 April 2019
Response to Planning Application Ref: PL/2018/03552/PPFL
Location: 162 Browns Lane, Knowle
Existing detached single storey dwelling on the site to be demolished and replaced with part two storey detached
dwelling.
Decision: Approved Date: 12.06.2019
19 April 2019
Response to Planning Application Ref: PL/2019/00346/MINFDW
Location: 2 Spring Coppice Drive, Dorridge
Proposal to demolish a bungalow and build a six bedroom house.
Decision: Approved Date: 12.06.2019
5 December 2019
Response to Planning Appeal Ref: AP/2019/00046/REF
Location: Land Between 39 And 79 Earlswood Road, Dorridge
Solihull Proposal Outline planning application for the erection of a care home (use class C2) comprising up to 81 bedrooms with all matters reserved save access.
The response to the Planning Application Ref: PL/2019//00723/PPOL is below dated 3 April 2019
Appeal Withdrawn January 2020
3 April 2019
Response to Planning Application Ref: PL/2019/00723/PPOL
Location: Land Between 39 And 79 Earlswood Road, Dorridge
Solihull Proposal Outline planning application for the erection of a care home (use class C2) comprising up to 81 bedrooms with all matters reserved save access.
Decision: Refused Date: 03.06.2019