Call for Sites – With more relevance to Monkspath and Hillfield communities
Residents may be aware of the councils recent ‘Call for Sites’ in order to fulfil its responsibilities in respect of housing targets (some 1300 new homes a year for the next ten years).
We have posted here a breakdown of the main sites within our Monkspath and Hillfield communities, together with maps. there is also a short synopsis of what those submitting the sites propose. The full report, relating to the whole of the borough, can be read via this link: https://solihull-mbc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/906f0c69fb5e41cb84b56d959f4d4db5
It is important to note that this is a land availability exercise, and it does not necessarily mean that these sites are suitable for development. Through the plan-making process, the Council will determine how much growth should be included in the plan, and where it should be located.
Sites (in no particular order):
1. Land North of Stratford Road, Shirley, Solihull B90 4EL – a 1 hectare site between Tesco and Stanbrook Road. Reference CFS/24/060 on the interactive map.
Appears designated for housing and is not greenbelt land per se (it is in effect spare land adjoining the Tesco car park).
2. Solihull Golf Club, Saintbury Drive, Solihull, B91 3SZ. This is Widney Manor Golf Club land which they lease from the council. Reference CFS/24/299.
This is a large site that encompasses the while of the golf club land, some 42.74 ha. The proposal refers to possible use being Housing, Specialist housing, Office, Industry, Storage/Distribution, Retail. Some 400 homes are forecast whilst acknowledging part of the site on the old landfill may need specific preparation.
3. No. 1 Monkspath Hall Road, Land and buildings on east side of Monkspath Hall Road, Birmingham, B90 4NU (the site has fencing around it and has void for several years). Reference number CFS/24/275. This is actually in Shirley South ward but is on the Monkspath boundary. Locals will recall this as the former Prologis Building.
It looks like about 187 mixed apartments/supported living places are sought in this application. However, the submission also refers to a mixture of Office/R&D, Industrial, Storage/Distribution.
Across the Stratford Road, which is in Cheswick Green parish, there are submissions for land owned by Shirley Golf club and the former Lloyds/TSB management centre. I will report on those sites in a report dedicated to Cheswick Green and share it asap.
Not in Blythe ward but this has relevance to residents on this Facebook forum are three sites off Widney Manor Road.
4. Land at Widney Manor Road, reference CFS/24/270. This is a narrow parcel of land and is claimed to be able to support 40 mixed housing.
5. Land adjoining the site above, also Widney Manor Road, is owned by SMBC and is reference number CFS/24/143 with possibly 170 units being developed.
6. Similarly, site reference CFS/24/267, also off Widney Manor Road, with a possibility of 79 units.
We have posted these details, not to alarm, but to inform. By visiting the website showing the submissions you can find out details for all submissions in the borough. The vast majority will not get off the ground. The Call for Sites map from 2026 shows the extent of submission that year and only so many went through to the examination in public held by the planning inspectors.
In effect, there is nothing to object to. Once the sites have been whittled down to form schedule of sites for consideration, that is the time. There are certainly sites that we have very serious reservations about; some we can readily accept – subject to infrastructure requirements and conditions being established. But, more about that later this year.