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Neighbourhood Area designation for Tidbury Green
An application has been submitted to Solihull Council for the designation of a Tidbury Green Neighbourhood Area, under Part 2 of The Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012. The application was received from Tidbury Green Parish Council and the area specified in the application consists of the whole of the Parish Council’s area. Following an assessment, Solihull Council approved the application on 6 February 2023. The designation can be viewed here.
Bickenhill Neighbourhood Area Application
An application was submitted to Solihull Council for the designation of a Bickenhill Neighbourhood Area, under Part 2 of The Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012. Solihull Council approved the application for the designation of the Bickenhill Neighbourhood Area at the Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Climate Change, Planning & Housing on 15 April 2021.
An application to re-designate the Knowle, Dorridge and Bentley Heath Neighbourhood Forum has been submitted to the Council. Read more about the consultation here.
In this section:
- What is Neighbourhood Planning and what can it do?
- How does it work and what is involved?
- Neighbourhood Planning in Solihull and the Status of Plans
- Where can I get more help?
What is Neighbourhood Planning and what can it do?
Neighbourhood Planning was introduced by the Localism Act in 2011. It enables Parish / Town Councils and local communities to prepare Neighbourhood Development Plans (NDPs), Neighbourhood Development Orders (NDOs) and Community Right to Build Orders (CRBOs) which can shape development and growth in their local area.
A NDP is a community led plan which sets out policies to guide the future use and development of land within a specified Neighbourhood Area. Plans can address a range of land-use related issues and they can also bring forward sites for development. They will not, however, be able to stop development that Solihull MBC has identified in the Local Plan as being suitable for the Borough.
The scope and content of plans are defined by local communities and once adopted, they become part of the Council’s statutory Development Plan. This means that they are used in the determination of planning applications that fall within in the Plan’s geographic area.
How does it work and what is involved?
Preparing a Neighbourhood Plan is optional and it is up to individual communities to decide whether they wish to prepare them. Where they do, the local Parish or Town Council will take the lead in their preparation.
In unparished areas, a community group known as a Neighbourhood Forum will need to be established and formally designated by the Local Planning Authority to lead the process. The key stages in the process can be summarised as follows:
| Stage 1 | Application and designation of a Neighbourhood Area and / or Neighbourhood Forum |
| Stage 2 | Evidence gathering and plan preparation |
| Stage 3 | Public Consultation on a draft Plan (Pre-Submission (Regulation 14) Consultation) undertaken by the Parish / Town Council or Neighbourhood Forum |
| Stage 4 | Formal submission of Neighbourhood Plan to the Council and further public consultation (Submission (Regulation 16) consultation) undertaken by the Council |
| Stage 5 | Independent Examination of the Neighbourhood Plan |
| Stage 6 | Community Referendum on the Neighbourhood Plan |
| Stage 7 | Adoption of the Plan (subject to a successful community referendum) |
Neighbourhood Planning in Solihull and the Status of Plans
In Solihull there are ten designated Neighbourhood Areas with either adopted plans or with plans in progress.
‘Made’ Neighbourhood Plans
‘Made’ Neighbourhood Plans have been through all the required stages in the Neighbourhood Planning process. They have been subject to an independent examination, received a ‘yes’ vote in a community referendum and have been adopted by the Council to form part of the Development Plan for Solihull.
In Solihull, the following Neighbourhood Plans are 'made':
Hampton-in-Arden
The Hampton-in-Arden Neighbourhood Plan was formally adopted by the Council at the Cabinet decision session on 10 August 2017. The Parish Council are now updating the Plan. Read more about the Hampton-in-Arden Neighbourhood Plan here.
Knowle, Dorridge and Bentley Heath
The Knowle, Dorridge and Bentley Heath Neighbourhood Plan was formally adopted by the Council at the Cabinet decision session on 11 April 2019. Read more about the Knowle, Dorridge and Bentley Heath Neighbourhood Plan here.
Berkswell
The Berkswell Neighbourhood Plan was formally adopted by the Council at the Cabinet decision session on 5 September 2019. Read more about the Berkswell Neighbourhood Plan here.
Balsall
The Balsall Neighbourhood Plan was formally adopted by the Council at the Cabinet decision session on 17 June 2021. Read more about the Balsall Neighbourhood Plan here.
Meriden
The Meriden Neighbourhood Plan was formally adopted by the Council at the Cabinet decision session on 17 June 2021. Read more about the Meriden Neighbourhood Plan here.
Designated Neighbourhood Areas
Tidbury Green
Solihull Council approved the application for the designation of the Tidbury Green Neighbourhood Area on 6 February 2023. The designation can be viewed here.
Cheswick Green
Solihull Council approved the application for the designation of the Cheswick Green Neighbourhood Area at the Cabinet decision session on 24 July 2014.
Dickens Heath
Solihull Council approved the application for the designation of the Dickens Heath Neighbourhood Area at the Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Managed Growth decision session on 7 July 2016.
Hockley Heath
Solihull Council approved the application for the designation of the Hockley Heath Neighbourhood Area at the Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Managed Growth decision session on 25 October 2016.
Bickenhill
Solihull Council approved the application for the designation of the Bickenhill Neighbourhood Area at the Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Climate Change, Planning & Housing on 15 April 2021.
Where can I get help with Neighbourhood Planning?
Solihull MBC is committed to getting local people engaged in the planning and development of their areas. If you are interested in preparing a plan for your area, we will help you through the process. Please see our Neighbourhood Planning Guidance and FAQs brochure for more information.
We would also encourage communities that are thinking about preparing a Neighbourhood Plan to contact the Council where we can provide further advice and assistance to help you through the process.
The Government is also supporting the delivery of Neighbourhood Planning through a package which includes both hands-on support and financial assistance. You can find out more about Neighbourhood Planning and how to apply for support here.