Draft Submission Plan (Regulation 19)
Hockley Heath Comment
The Settlement Now
612.Hockley Heath village is a largely inter and post-war small settlement formed by ribbon development. It is bisected by the A3400 Stratford Road, which is a key connection to Junction 4 of the M42 to the north and Stratford-upon-Avon to the South. Comment
613.Located within Hockley Heath Parish, near the boundary with Stratford and Warwick Districts, this semi-rural settlement lies to the far south of the Borough. The population of the parish is 1,900 in some 770 households with the majority of residents in the parish residing within the village of Hockley Heath. Comment
614.The settlement is characterised by low-density residential areas, many dwellings of detached or semi-detached form. The settlement has a small village centre, which provides a range of shops and restaurants. However, it lacks some services such as a doctors surgery. Comment
615.The village of Hockley Heath is inset in the Green Belt, which separates it from neighbouring Knowle, Dorridge and Bentley Heath and gives it a sense of remoteness. The Green Belt is also valuable in the settlement’s overall environmental quality and contributes to its semi-rural setting. Hockley Heath Recreation Ground provides valuable green space for residents to use within the village. The settlement also benefits from significant blue infrastructure in the form of the Stratford-Upon-Avon Canal, which provides a linear heritage asset with a village wharf. Comment
616.The area has a high-quality residential environment and a good, popular school (Tudor Grange Primary Academy - Hockley Heath). This one-form entry primary school can accommodate some 210 pupils plus early years. However, secondary education needs are met outside of the Parish. Comment
617.Hockley Heath has bus services running through the village connecting Solihull and Stratford and a more frequent service linking to Dorridge/Solihull and Cheswick Green/Shirley. Rail access is available at Dorridge railway station, connecting the settlement to Birmingham and London. Comment
The Settlement in the Future
618.The A3400 will continue to provide an important part of the highway network, enabling vehicles to travel from Stratford-upon-Avon, and to travel to the north, connecting Hockley Heath to Blythe Valley Park and the M42. Comment
619.Due to the proximity to the Borough boundary, future expansion of the settlement within Solihull Borough is limited and largely restricted to the north and west of the village. Comment
620.Whilst being classified in the settlement hierarchy as a larger village, given the more limited ranges of services and the less accessible nature of the settlement, it is considered that development options are restricted to what would be limited and proportionate extensions to the settlement. A key aspect to this is to ensure that the existing infrastructure supporting the village, especially the school, is not overwhelmed from additional demands that may occur from larger expansions. Comment
What is Required for the Settlement in the Future?
621.Hockley Heath will require protection from excessive development that may impact upon the character and attractiveness of the village, and the services it provides. Where development is provided, the following issues will need to be addressed: Comment
622.School Parking – Congestion around school pick up and drop off times currently occurs in School Road. Development on land south of School Road will provide an opportunity to deliver access/parking improvements and routes for pedestrians that takes this into account. Comment
623.Community Infrastructure Levy – Presently, the parish council will directly receive 15% of the levy collected in the area. This will increase to 25% once any Neighbourhood Plan is adopted. This will provide a significant source of funding that can be used to take forward appropriate projects that the community have identified as priorities. This can include simple, relatively low-cost actions (e.g. further traffic regulation orders) through to more substantial projects. It will be for the parish council to decide how this ‘local’ element of the CIL receipts is to be spent and there is potential for partnership working to maximise the use of monies from this source. Comment
624.Pedestrian and Cycling Connectivity – Enhancements to encourage and promote walking and cycling in the settlement, particularly towards the local centre, schools and public transport will be required. Developments will be expected to ensure that walking and cycling connectivity is provided both within and beyond the site boundary, linking in with the existing and proposed cycle and walking networks identified in the Council’s Cycling and Walking Strategy, as well as routes for recreation. Comment
625.Green Space Improvements – In accordance with the NPPF and the ‘golden rules’, opportunities for the provision and improvement of local green space that is accessible and of high quality will be maximised. Comment
626.Health provision – The Council is working with the BSOL ICB to establish the impact of new development on local GPs and other services, and how this can be addressed. Comment
627.Other necessary improvements to local infrastructure - Where development generates a need for new or improved infrastructure, developers will be expected to deliver such improvements to ensure that growth does not place unacceptable pressure on existing infrastructure networks and services and contributes to the creation of sustainable, well-served communities. Comment
Proposed Approach
628.Hockley Heath is identified for limited and proportionate expansion of the village, with no other large-scale allocations being considered appropriate. This reflects the semi-rural character of the village and the need to manage the capacity and viability of local infrastructure. Comment
629.The Green Belt boundary around Hockley Heath will need to be amended to accommodate the level of growth proposed for the settlement. To provide a logical, strong and defensible new southern boundary, it is proposed to use the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal. Changes to the Green Belt boundary north of School Road are also proposed to recognise the existing built-up nature of this frontage. Comment
630.A mix of market and affordable housing, as well as smaller market homes for young people wishing to remain in the area, and specialist housing to meet the needs of older people will be provided in the settlement. This will seek to align the types and sizes of homes to be made available and the needs of the community. However, there will need to be a careful balance struck between making the most efficient use of land and respecting the character of the local area. Comment
631.In addition to the site south of School Road that would then fall within the settlement boundary, if the Green Belt boundary were amended as described above, a further small site may then be considered appropriate for development as it would then also be within the settlement boundary. The site is not being allocated as part of this plan but is being highlighted as it has been promoted for development by the landowner/developer and if the Green Belt boundary is changed, it would no longer be subject to Green Belt policy. The principle as to whether development would be allowed would be established through the planning application process. The site is as follows Comment
- Land adjacent to 84 School Road
Recent Planning Applications
632.A number of recent planning applications need to be highlighted as they are also relevant to how the settlement will develop in the future, and they will have implications for determining what an appropriate amended boundary to the Green Belt ought to be. The proposals include the following: Comment
Development of up to 99 dwellings on land south of School Road
633.A resolution to grant outline planning permission for up to 99 dwellings, subject to a S106 Agreement, has been made on this Green Belt site previously identified as allocation HH1 in the draft 2020 Local Plan. It also includes infrastructure and open space. Comment
Development of up to 9 dwellings on land adjacent to 84 School Road
634.Planning permission in principle has been obtained for the provision of up to 9 dwellings on this site. Whilst technical details consent needs to be submitted and all relevant matters approved before full planning permission is secured, the permission in principle consent provides early certainty on the acceptability of development on this site. Comment
Development of up to 80 dwellings on land west of Stratford Road
635.Outline planning permission for up to 80 dwellings and associated infrastructure was granted on appeal in July 2026. Comment
