The independent inspector of the Solihull draft plan has rejected that part which provides substantial new housing on the brownfield site at the NEC / Hub. He claims that the housing cannot be delivered and has (incredibly) suggested that further greenbelt sites should be used for 1700 homes; he has even rejected the suggestion of a review in 5 years to monitor progress!
That suggestion is totally unacceptable. However, we do not want work on the draft plan to cease or for it to be declared unsound, because that could result in a ‘free for all’ for planning applications across all of our greenbelt, as well as restrict the Council's ability to demand developers provide
key infrastructure. A draft plan in examination does provide some short-term protection against that.
The Conservative government is proposing new planning guidelines and regulations, some of which could be in place before mid-year, and this might provide a route through that does not involve building on more greenbelt. The Council has therefore suggested that the Inspector consider those new national draft regulations before concluding the examination.
