The year 2025 proved to be a landmark period for Solihull residents who challenged the council’s planning decisions after facing rejection. Throughout the year, the Local Democracy Reporting Service tracked the journeys of determined residents who appealed Solihull Council’s planning refusals to the government’s planning inspectorate for final rulings.
There were both victories and setbacks among those who refused to accept the initial denials. Here’s a look at some significant appeal outcomes:
In one notable case, an applicant proposed a garage they argued was well-suited to the area’s character. Although Solihull councilors initially denied the application in May, citing concerns that the structure would be “overly prominent and visually intrusive,” the planning inspector overturned this decision in September. The inspector concluded the garage would not be an “unobtrusive position nor form a prominent feature or impinge on neighbouring amenity,” granting planning permission.
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Conversely, a different appeal faced disappointment after the council blocked a proposed home extension in May, stating that its “bulk, scale and design” would fail to respect the property’s character and constitute overdevelopment of the site. Following an appeal in summer, the planning inspector upheld Solihull’s refusal in December, agreeing that the development would harm the area’s character and appearance. The inspector described the refusal as “proportionate and necessary.”
Another case involved a new home application initially recommended for approval by council officers. However, the planning committee rejected it in May, citing the “visual impact” and criticizing the rationale of housing demand as a “very poor excuse” to build. The government inspector backed the council’s stance in December, ruling that the scheme would cause “unacceptable harm to the overall character and appearance of the surrounding area.”
In a further instance, a proposed side extension was denied in February because planners felt it would “negatively impact the appearance of the existing dwelling” by creating an unbalanced visual relationship with the neighboring semi-detached house. Inspector Andrew Walker agreed in November, dismissing the appeal and emphasizing the extension’s harmful effect on both the property and the wider street scene.
Councillor Bob Grinsell, chairman of the council’s planning committee, acknowledged that appeal outcomes can sometimes be disappointing but emphasized a balanced record: “We do get our fair share of wins.”
Detailed information on planning appeals and their outcomes can be found on the Planning Inspectorate’s official website.