Bungalow Plan Sparks Conservation Concerns in Historic Village
A controversial proposal to build a new three-bedroom bungalow in the heart of Knowle village will be decided by Solihull Council this week, despite significant local opposition. The application, submitted by Philip Pearce, seeks to demolish existing garages at Lodge Croft and construct a single-storey residential property in their place.
The site has been the subject of multiple failed development attempts in recent years, having originally been earmarked for car parking to serve a proposed Waitrose store that never materialised. In 2021, plans for a two-storey office block were rejected by both Solihull Council planners and the government's planning inspector on appeal.
Objections and Conservation Area Worries
During a public consultation held this summer, 13 residents submitted formal objections raising multiple concerns about the current bungalow proposal. Key issues highlighted included fears that the development was 'crammed in' and represented 'overdevelopment' of the sensitive location.
Other objections focused on the potential loss of privacy for neighbouring properties, increased highway congestion, and concerns that the design fails to preserve or enhance the character of Knowle's conservation area. Residents argued the bungalow would be 'historically out of place' and provided no public benefits to the community.
Planning Officers Recommend Approval
Despite local opposition, planning officers have recommended that the application be approved when it goes before the council's planning committee on Wednesday, November 12. In their official report, officers stated that the highway authority found the proposals acceptable and concluded the development would preserve the character of the conservation area without harming its setting or significance.
A planning statement supporting the application highlighted that the scale had been significantly reduced from the previously rejected two-storey office block to a single-storey bungalow. The statement asserted: 'The development raises no issues of amenity, access, or highway safety. We trust the council will support the planning application.'
The proposed bungalow would feature three bedrooms, a kitchen, lounge, and ancillary residential space. The planning committee meeting, which is open to the public, will be held at the Civic Suite from 6pm and will also be streamed live on the council's website.
