Plans have been submitted to build a five-bedroom house on land behind a pub in the Solihull village of Balsall Common. The proposal involves developing a 0.6-hectare plot at the rear of Ye Olde Saracens Head, a historic pub in the area.
Planning Application Details
Applicant Daniel Thwaites has lodged a 'permission in principle' application with Solihull Council. This type of application is designed to speed up housebuilding by asking planners to determine whether the land is suitable for development in principle.
The site is located on the western edge of Balsall Common and is currently in agricultural use. It falls within the green belt, but the applicant argues that it qualifies as 'grey belt' – green belt land that may be suitable for housing.
Arguments for Development
A planning statement submitted with the application states: "The site is considered to be in the open countryside. However, the site is not isolated, with residential development immediately adjacent to the south and east, and the car park of the public house to the north."
The applicant contends that the land is a "sustainable location for residential development" and that the proposed dwelling will incorporate sustainable and environmentally conscious features. They argue that any conflicts with local plan policy would not significantly outweigh the benefits of additional housing, given the identified shortfall in the borough.
Next Steps
The application will be reviewed by the council's planning department. It may be decided by officers directly or referred to councillors for a public decision. To view the plans, search for application number PL/2026/00132/PIP on the Solihull Council planning portal.
