A draft blueprint shaping where thousands of homes and infrastructure would be built in Solihull has taken the next step to being adopted.

But concerns have been raised by opposition councillors over the fast timetable in place.

The 200 page draft plan outlines how the authority could develop up to 2043, including proposals for housing which has become a massive issue as Solihull is under pressure to meet the government's target of building 8,500 new homes in the borough before 2029.

The draft plan features various policies which deal with significant changes to national planning policy since the previous 2020 plan was published, and a former draft plan had to be withdrawn.

One of the policies is: "The council will identify sufficient land for at least 13,096 net additional homes, to ensure sufficient housing land supply to deliver 21,913 additional homes in the period 2026-2043."

The draft plan was examined by councillors across two back-to-back meetings lasting a combined total of over four hours on September 29.

The economic development, managed growth and skills scrutiny board meeting began with a statement from officer Mark Andrews, the council's head of planning, design and engagement services.

He said the local plan was being produced on an "accelerated and challenging timescale" following a ministerial letter pushing for progress by the end of this year.

"The time constraints mean some areas of the plan are not as polished at this stage as we would have ideally liked," he said.

"However we believe the fundamental components are sound and legally compliant.

"The intention is to submit the plan before the end of the year in line with government expectations.

"We then expect public examination in late spring (next year), possible modifications in the autumn and an opportunity to adopt the plan in early 2028."

But the officer warned if a plan was not adopted it would leave the authority "further exposed to speculative developments".

In the debate Cllr Samantha Gethen, leader of the Reform UK group, said: "We don't have all the detail, and I like detail.

"Part of this we are looking at putting 13,000 homes on land that is currently green belt.

"We haven't got an exact figure for sites, we have got broad locations. Nothing specific.

"Not all the information is out there for anyone to give their actual feelings on the amount of green space we are about to lose for all these developments."

The officer replied: "We'd accept, not all the information is in the public domain at the moment.

"The evidence base will be published when we start the formal consultation, assuming it's agreed by full council."

Green group leader Cllr Max McLoughlin said: "My concern is, we are being told there will be more information but as a scrutiny board we have to be satisfied there is sufficient evidence to be able to meet regularity requirements (with government policies)."

Cllr Andy Mackiewicz, the cabinet portfolio holder – climate change and planning, then said: "We need to step back.

"All these process questions are great but if we don't get a plan through by the end of this year, we won't have a plan for three years.

"That's three years of developers rubbing their hands saying 'yipee' – a free-for-all.

"It's a simple choice. I know it's not an easy choice but we have got to get the plan through for the benefit of our borough."

Cllr Gethen said: "We have concerns about the timescale of this and it kind of feels we are being made to agree to the plan.

"For Cllr Mackiewicz to say we don't have a choice, we have got to say yes – saying things like that makes me concerned and really wants me to say no."

Leader of the Liberal Democrat group Cllr Ade Adeyemo added: "It needs to be clear we are here to scrutinise – whether you like it or not."

In the later cabinet meeting Cllr McLoughlin reiterated: "We were presented with less evidence than I would have liked to be able to have meaningful scrutiny, throughout the (scrutiny) meeting.

"But we have been put in a difficult situation here where there is an expectation to accept and adopt a plan.

"Some of this information I saw for the first time tonight."

Council leader Cllr Karen Grinsell said: "There was much debate through the scrutiny board.

"We need a local plan, this really is the next phase in the process to move it on to full council, that moves it on to consultation (for six weeks).

"The evidence base will be included – you will have the opportunity to see the evidence base over the coming weeks."

The cabinet agreed to endorse the plan, and recommended full council approve it at its next meeting scheduled to take place on Tuesday, (October 6).