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Solihull Council has made what one senior councillor called a “decision of national significance” by reclassifying Knowle, Dorridge and Bentley Heath (KDBH) as a single town — a move designed to strengthen Green Belt protection around the settlements. The change means that, in planning terms, the Green Belt will now serve to prevent the  new town  from merging with other settlements, rather than separating the three villages from each other. Balsall Common has also been given

Birmingham City Council  has opened a  six-week public consultation  on its  Birmingham Local Plan – Focused Preferred Options Document (FPOD) , running from  Thursday 23 October to Thursday 4 December 2025 . The FPOD sets out the emerging  Development Strategy for the city to 2044 , identifying  15 Growth Zones  as the main focus for new housing, employment, and regeneration. These are locations with strong regeneration potential, good public transport connections, and acces

Policy review signals more flexibility ahead The Government is reportedly considering measures to make affordable housing requirements more flexible, amid growing concern that current targets are stalling development across the country. In London, Mayor Sadiq Khan has confirmed that “nothing is off the table” as the Greater London Authority reviews the city’s long-standing 35 per cent affordable housing threshold. Developers argue that the existing target renders many schemes

Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook has written to the Planning Inspectorate confirming that inspectors can once again recommend local planning authorities undertake Green Belt reviews as part of the Local Plan examination process. The announcement, made in October 2025, marks a significant shift in planning policy and restores a power removed more than a decade ago. It means that where a submitted Local Plan is found to fall short of housing or employment land requirements, P

Research published by the Home Builders Federation (HBF) has revealed that around 8,500 affordable homes due to be built in the next year...