Last week I wrote to Solihull Council to formally object to the proposal to build up to 350 houses on agricultural green belt land off Blue Lake Road in Dorridge.
This site sits firmly within the designated green belt, which exists to prevent urban sprawl, protect open countryside, and maintain the rural character of our communities.
The applicant’s claim that the land is “grey belt” has no basis in national planning policy. Under the NPPF, green belt boundaries can only be changed in exceptional circumstances and none have been demonstrated here.
The scale of this development is also way out of proportion for a rural area like Dorridge. It would put huge pressure on local services and infrastructure. With the Arden Triangle already approved for more than 450 homes less than a mile away, local housing needs are already being addressed without destroying more green belt.
Many residents have shared their objections, and it’s clear this proposal goes against the wishes of the local community. The loss of farmland, harm to local ecosystems, and permanent impact on the landscape can’t be undone and the proposed Biodiversity Net Gain measures don’t come close to compensating for the damage.
This is an excessive, unjustified, and unsustainable development that puts protected land at risk for no exceptional reason. I will always stand up for our precious greenbelt and with residents against speculative development.
Read my letter here: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1222394006372942&set=pcb.1222394053…
