Plans have been submitted to construct a new five-bedroom house on land behind the Ye Olde Saracens Head pub in Balsall Common, Solihull. The application, lodged by Daniel Thwaites, proposes developing 0.6 hectares at the rear of the pub’s property.
This ‘permission in principle’ application, designed to streamline the housebuilding process, requests preliminary approval from Solihull planners on whether the land is suitable for residential development.
According to the planning statement, the site sits on the western edge of Balsall Common and is currently used for agriculture. While the land falls within the green belt, the applicant argues it is more appropriately classified as ‘grey belt’ – land on the outskirts of urban areas that could be considered for housing.
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The statement highlights that the proposed dwelling will integrate sustainable and environmentally conscious features. Although the site lies within open countryside, it is bordered by residential areas to the south and east and the pub’s car park to the north, meaning it is not isolated.
The applicant emphasizes that the location is sustainable for residential development and claims any conflicts with local planning policies are outweighed by the benefits of adding much-needed housing to the borough, addressing the current housing shortfall.
The planning application will be reviewed by Solihull Council’s planning department and may be decided by officers or escalated to councillors for a public decision.
To view detailed plans, the application number PL/2026/00132/PIP can be searched on the Solihull Council planning portal.