Plans to build six self-build homes on green belt land off Wootton Lane in Balsall Common have been refused by Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council (SMBC).

The Permission in Principle (PIP) application, submitted by Mr S Morrison, proposed the construction of six dwellings on land currently used as grass fields and garden land.

In a planning statement supporting the scheme, the applicant argued the site was suitable for housing despite its green belt designation.

The document stated the land was "closely related to the built extent of Balsall Common" and described it as "grey belt land that does not strongly contribute to the key Green Belt purposes".

The applicant also highlighted Solihull's housing land supply shortfall, arguing there was a "demonstrable, unmet housing need in the borough" and that the proposal represented "a sustainable and policy-compliant opportunity for small-scale residential development".

The proposal included creating a new access point from Wootton Lane, with the applicant noting that its location had been informed by recent speed survey data.

During the consultation process, SMBC's drainage and contaminated land teams raised no objections.

However, the council's highways department objected to the application, while ward councillors also opposed the plans.

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Three letters of objection and one letter of comment were submitted.

Concerns raised included the site's green belt status, the narrow nature of Wootton Lane, a lack of safe walking routes to services and public transport, increased traffic, loss of privacy, noise and the impact the development could have on the area's rural character.

In its decision report, SMBC acknowledged that the site met the criteria for grey belt land and accepted there was an unmet need for the type of development proposed.

However, officers concluded that the site was "not considered to be situated in an accessible location", and therefore failed to comply with planning policy.

The report also stated that the development would "clearly result in urbanisation of the area, and harmfully erode its strong rural character to the detriment of the character and appearance of the countryside".

The application was refused in July.

To view the full planning application, click here.