Solihull Conservatives have raised concerns that the Labour Government’s latest planning changes could lead to high-density development around railway stations across the borough, including development on Green Belt land.
The Labour Government has today published its updated National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) – the national planning rules which councils must follow when deciding where development should take place.
Under the changes, high-density development around railway stations will be treated as appropriate in principle, including in areas of Green Belt.
The changes could have significant consequences for Solihull, with more than 11 railway stations affecting communities across the borough, many of them close to valued green spaces and established residential areas.
Solihull Conservatives have warned that the new national approach risks reducing local influence over the scale and character of development and could place additional pressure on roads, schools, GP surgeries and other local infrastructure.
The announcement also comes as *Solihull Council develops its new draft Local Plan*, which will set out how the borough accommodates future housing and development.
Cllr Simon Coles, Blythe Ward, said: “These changes could have a major impact on Solihull. With more than 11 railway stations affecting our borough, many of our communities could find themselves facing significantly greater development pressure as a direct result of national planning policy. We absolutely recognise the need for new homes. But they must be the right homes, in the right places and accompanied by the roads, schools, health services and other infrastructure needed to support them. Good public transport links should be part of sensible planning, but proximity to a railway station should not become an automatic justification for high-density development regardless of the impact on the surrounding community or Green Belt. This is particularly important as we develop Solihull’s new draft Local Plan. We want to make sensible decisions about the future of our borough, taking account of local circumstances and the character and environment of our communities. Solihull Conservatives will continue to stand up for our communities and do everything we can to protect our borough from inappropriate and excessive development.”
Solihull Conservatives are calling for local circumstances, infrastructure capacity and the character of existing communities to remain central to decisions about where and how development takes place.
