'Deep reservations' over leafy Midlands village housing plans as 'besieged' residents speak out
There are a number of ongoing development proposals surrounding the leafy West Midlands village - with some submitted to the council and others under consultation ahead of being proposed.
Meriden and Solihull East MP Saqib Bhatti spoke of his "deep reservations" around the proposed developments, which could bring a significant number of extra homes to the "tranquil" village.
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Some plans are yet to be submitted to the council as they are undergoing public consultation through developers, but if later approved, would bring hundreds of new homes to Hockley Heath.
In addition to plans to be submitted to Solihull Council, there are proposals from the south Warwickshire side of Hockley Heath that are also worrying villagers.
Hockley Heath villager Peter Sylvester told BirminghamLive: "Hockley Heath forms part of the green belt between the Dorridge/Knowle conurbation and Solihull and if the developments that we are seeing proposed at the moment, that will convert us from a green belt location to a town in its own right, which means we will lose the complete split between the green belt and the buildings."
The 73-year-old added: "We are not against new houses.
"We don't want to be NIMBYS we have to be realistic but we have to say crikey, how are we going to do this?
"We appreciate that we have to play our part but this is overwhelming.
"You feel as if you are being besieged from north and south."
Peter helped set up Hockley Heath Action Group at the start of July and it now has some 185 members.
Saqib Bhatti, Member of Parliament for Meriden and Solihull East, also met with residents of Hockley Heath, attending a meeting with Hockley Heath Action Group on Thursday July 17.
Responding to concerns, Mr Bhatti said: 'I was pleased to meet with residents at a meeting hosted by Hockley Heath Parish Council, to express my deep reservations about the proposed developments around Hockley Heath.
"This follows a meeting I attended in February, earlier this year.
'My constituents in Hockley Heath and I are in lockstep in our belief that these planning proposals could have a significant impact on the local greenbelt.
"We also agree that the Government's National Planning Policy Framework is gravely unfair – putting enormous pressures on rural communities whilst leaving urban areas like Birmingham criminally undeveloped.
'I will continue to work tirelessly with my constituents to protect our precious greenbelt, preserve our natural environment and ensure that the people of Hockley Heath are treated fairly and with consideration.'
A Solihull Council spokesperson told BirminghamLive: "We are aware that these sites, along with many others, have been submitted via our Call for Sites exercise over the winter.
"The Council will be reviewing all sites to determine which may be appropriate to be included in the draft Local Plan.
'The Call for Sites is a land availability exercise, and it does not necessarily mean that sites are suitable for development.
'The council is also aware of the proposals within the South Warwickshire plan and will continue to engage with the neighbouring authorities as these plans evolve.'
You can read more of what Hockley Heath residents have to say in our report, here.
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