Plans to build a new housing estate on Solihull’s green belt land have sparked significant opposition, including strong objections from Meriden and Solihull East MP Saqib Bhatti. The proposal by developer Richborough Estates involves constructing 300 homes—including a community park, children’s play areas, and upgraded walking and cycling routes—on a 15-hectare site at Golden End Farm, north of Kenilworth Road in Knowle.
The developer has emphasized that half of the homes will be affordable, offering a variety of housing types, sizes, and tenures. Planning agents from Delta Planning describe the site as being in a “highly sustainable location” with easy access to primary and secondary schools. They also categorize the land as “grey belt,” a designation indicating lower quality green belt land deemed suitable for housing development. The agents argue that the benefits of the scheme outweigh the limited drawbacks.
However, MP Saqib Bhatti has publicly voiced his firm opposition, describing the scheme as “inappropriate and unjustified” both in location and scale. He highlights that the development contradicts vital planning policies meant to protect the green belt and limit harmful urban sprawl into rural areas. Bhatti also points out the lack of essential infrastructure improvements to support such a development sustainably and states he has received numerous concerns from local residents opposed to the plans.
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“This scheme must not proceed,” Bhatti asserts in his objection letter.
Currently, the application seeks outline planning permission, with details such as the layout and appearance of the homes to be submitted later if initial approval is granted. Interested parties can view the plans under application reference PL/2026/00639/PPOL through Solihull Council’s online planning portal.