Plans to demolish Solihull Police Station on Homer Road have been formally lodged with council planners, delivering a significant blow to campaigners who have fought to keep the station open. The move represents the latest development in an eight-year saga that has seen widespread opposition and a dedicated campaign to preserve the building.
Background of the Controversial Proposal
The original proposal to sell the station emerged in 2018, when the then Labour West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, David Jamieson, agreed to sell the building as part of broader plans to save the force £5 million. At the time, it was suggested that neighbourhood police teams and the public contact office based at Homer Road would be relocated locally, with Chelmsley Wood Police Station becoming the new police team headquarters for the borough.
Since then, there have been few developments until now. Applicant Opus Land has submitted major plans to demolish the 1960s-era station and replace it with a new purpose-built office building and a multi-storey car park.
Details of the New Development
A design and access statement included in the application, submitted to Solihull Council on June 8, outlines the proposals. The development comprises an 8,937 square meter commercial office building arranged over five storeys. This will be supported by a multi-storey car park spanning five levels, providing 273 parking spaces.
The statement highlights the site's location, noting easy access to public transport and a wide range of amenities within the local area and town centre. It describes the development as being of an appropriate scale within the context of Homer Road and the Touchwood shopping centre, sitting within the scale and height parameters of the town centre masterplan. The design aims to provide a Grade A office that meets best practice principles, creating a welcoming and light working environment with best-in-class facilities.
CGI images of the proposed office building have also been included in the planning application.
Reaction from Campaigners and Politicians
The news will disappoint campaigners, including more than 1,000 people who signed a petition to save the station. The original proposal has faced heavy criticism over the years from local Conservatives, given that Mr. Jamieson was a Labour Police and Crime Commissioner. His successor, Simon Foster, also a Labour PCC, and his strategic police and crime board approved the plans to sell the building in 2023.
Saqib Bhatti, the local MP, has previously raised the issue in the Commons, stating that a closure would go a long way in undermining safety and security for his constituents.
Public Consultation
Residents can now have their say in a consultation that has been launched. To view the plans and make a comment, search for application PL/2026/01091/PPFL on the Solihull Council planning portal. The closing date for submissions is July 9.
