A children's home facing than 30 objections has been given the go-ahead from Solihull planners.

Applicant Arslan Ali lodged the plan with Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council (SMBC) to turn a seven-bed home in Grange Road, Olton, into a home caring for four children aged between eight and 17-years-old in July.

In a consultation period 34 objections were submitted from neighbours who raised various concerns including highways, impact on the "character and appearance" of the area and that it would result in the loss of a family home.

The application was considered at the latest meeting of the authority's planning committee after being called in by ward councillor James Johnson.

In the public speaking section the councillor said: "If you add up the numbers including all the registered homes, all those given permission and waiting permission there are 21 children's care homes within a two mile radius of this home.

"That is a disproportionate concentration of children in a small geographical area."

He added that at peak times Grange Road was a "car park" due to it being a short distance away from schools.

In the debate Cllr Michael James highlighted the concerns over the number of children's homes in the area.

Mark Andrews, SMBC's head of planning, design and engagement service, replied that the number of children's homes was considered "relatively low" as a percentage of housing stock in the wider area.

Cllr James Bradley said he knew the area well and described highways issues as "very bad" at peak times.

He proposed adding a condition over having staff change over times at the children's home not clashing with school drop off and pick up times, which was agreed by the committee.

Chairman of the committee Cllr Bob Grinsell, who declared he lived near to the home, said: "I'm in a quandary over this one.

"I avoid travelling before 9.15am in the morning because the traffic around there is absolutely horrendous.

"I don't care about (children's home percentage) statistics, I care about people, our children, the residents."

When he moved to the vote four committee members voted in favour of approval subject to conditions with three against, and one abstention.

The decision was made at the meeting held at the Civic Suite on October 7.