Meriden church to get disabled access ramp after council approval

By Emily Griffin 18th Sep 2026

Local News by Emily Griffin 18th Sep 2026

Plans to improve disabled access at St Lawrence Church in Meriden have been approved by Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council (SMBC).

The application, submitted by Mr Nobby Clarke, sought permission to install a disabled access ramp at the church on Church Lane.

A planning statement by Oliver Architecture said "various options for a ramp and steps in front of the South Porch" were considered following a survey of the site.

However, a southern approach was ruled out because "the path south of here falls away from the church, so a ramped southern approach is not viable".

Designers also explored an approach from the east side of the porch, but found there was "insufficient width between the base of the pollarded tree south-east of the Porch and the ramp for a wheelchair to pass".

The preferred design was therefore drawn as a shallow slope rather than a formal ramp.

The planning statement acknowledged that "no simple solution is immediately apparent", but said the proposal remained "the likely preferred option".

SMBC's historic environment team ultimately raised no objection to the scheme, while the Lead Local Flood Authority had no comments.