A proposal for a mini housing estate in Kingshurst has been granted planning permission by Solihull councillors, despite ongoing concerns about site access. The land, located at the rear of Cooks Lane, had prior consent for housing, which formed part of the council’s decision.
The application, submitted by developer Harinder Sandhu, outlines plans for eight homes: four three-bedroom and four two-bedroom properties, accessed via Hillside Gardens. The proposal first came before the planning committee a year ago.
During the public consultation phase, 14 local residents raised objections, citing issues of overdevelopment and inadequate parking provision.
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Kingshurst parish councillor David Cole spoke during the public session, stressing that the proposed access road, an unadopted private driveway serving numbers two, four, and six Hillside Gardens, should not be used for the development. He noted that residents are responsible for the maintenance of this road according to their deeds and that the applicant lacks legal rights to use it.
In response, planning agent Neil Boddison reminded the committee that a nearly identical scheme had been approved in 2018. He emphasized that the current application does not increase the number of homes or alter the scale and design of the buildings. Boddison added that legal access disputes fall outside the planning remit and have already been settled in the applicant’s favor by the courts.
Committee chair Councillor Bob Grinsell, who was part of the 2018 approval, reiterated that this proposal is essentially the same, except it replaces supported living accommodations with market housing.
Councillor James Bradley voiced concerns over the site lying undeveloped for seven years and questioned whether approval would lead to actual construction.
Planning officers clarified that the use or development of an approved site is a private matter, not governed by the planning permission itself.
Ultimately, councillors voted unanimously on June 17 at the Civic Suite to approve the project, subject to standard conditions, moving forward with the Kingshurst mini estate.