Residents of Balsall Common are expressing a mixture of resignation and concern following the publication of an updated green belt assessment, which highlights 72 potential ‘grey belt’ sites across Solihull that may be considered for development. The term ‘grey belt’ refers to lower-quality, less valuable sections of protected green belt land that could potentially be released for housing or other construction.
Solihull Council has emphasised that the identification of these sites does not guarantee they will be developed, as decisions will be made through the local plan process. However, this has done little to ease the worries of local villagers living close to one of the sites adjacent to the new HS2 line.
Many residents have recent memories of the council’s approval of 250 homes on Waste Lane, which only last week gained planning permission. This development has become a point of discussion and concern among the locals.
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One retired resident of Meeting House Lane commented on the strain housing development places on local infrastructure, saying, “We don’t have the infrastructure at the moment for all these homes. People are still moving into the area, and while it hasn’t put them off yet, it will change the nature of the village.” Reflecting on past disruptions, they added, “Balsall Common has already been beleaguered with HS2, so once you have upset a community, you might as well carry on.”
Another long-term resident expressed a desire to maintain green spaces, stating, “I do think trying to keep a green corridor is important. We have lived here for 50 years when it was mainly open fields and a small village. I wish they would stop and find somewhere else to do it.” While aware that their stance could be labelled as ‘Nimbyism’, they highlighted how much the area has already changed over the years.
Residents of Beverley Close, neighbouring one of the newly identified grey belt sites, also voiced opposition. A resident with over 40 years in the village remarked, “There have been more and more houses. There could be over 1,000 houses across all sites when it’s finished, which I think is ridiculous. At the moment, you can’t even get a parking spot; years ago you could park anywhere.”
One resident who has called the village home for five decades was particularly strong in their feelings, saying, “I think it will be disastrous. They will build around me. All the fields lost. They are building more and more, which is a travesty. Balsall Common has changed a lot, not for the better.”
Similarly, a Sunnyside Lane resident, who has lived in the area since 1999, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service, “This would be the biggest change. The infrastructure isn’t here to cope.” Another added, “You feel powerless because they are going to do it anyway. The thing that concerns me most is how the schools and doctors' surgery will manage.”
Addressing the concerns, Councillor Andy Mackiewicz, cabinet member for climate change and planning, stated: “Decisions about whether any sites should be released from the green belt to meet future development needs across the borough will be made through the local plan process. The identification of potential grey belt land does not mean those areas are suitable for development, nor does it mean that entire land parcels assessed as containing grey belt would automatically be considered for development. We hope that by publishing the assessment ahead of the next stage of the local plan, residents and interested parties will have more time to digest the content before the next round of consultation begins.”
As discussions continue, the residents of Balsall Common remain watchful and hope for balanced decision-making that preserves the character and infrastructure of their village.