Government Planner Overrules Solihull Council on Green Belt Stable Conversion
A government planning inspector has intervened to overturn Solihull Council's decision, allowing plans to convert stables targeted by criminals into a two-bedroom home in the green belt to progress. The move comes after a lengthy planning dispute centered on the site in Meriden.
Original Application and Council Refusal
Applicant Laura Carroll first submitted plans to Solihull Council in 2023, seeking permission to convert existing stables on land adjacent to Bradmore Eaves in Green Lane, Meriden. The application argued the conversion would address housing shortages in Solihull while reusing existing buildings on the approximately 1,000 square meter site.
Planning agents Green Planning Studio Ltd emphasized in their statement that the proposal would have "no further impact on the openness of the green belt" than the current structures. They highlighted security concerns, noting the site had been broken into twice in two years, requiring police intervention and causing disruption to the applicant who lives some distance away.
However, Solihull planners rejected the application that same year. Mark Andrews, the authority's head of planning, design and engagement service, stated in the decision notice that the development represented "inappropriate development in the green belt" and that the "very special circumstances" presented did not "clearly outweigh the harm."
Government Inspector's Intervention
In 2024, government planning inspector Claire Shearing overruled the council's decision. In her appeal ruling, she wrote that the council accepted alterations to the building would have "a neutral effect on openness" and that the structure was "of permanent and substantial construction" capable of conversion.
Shearing determined that "the proposal would preserve the openness of the green belt" and, by reusing an existing building on the limited scale of the site, would not conflict with green belt purposes. She concluded that "the proposal would not be inappropriate development in the green belt," directly contradicting the council's assessment.
Current Progress and Conditions
Following the successful appeal, the applicant applied to Solihull Council to discharge preparatory conditions required before construction could begin. On February 24, council planners formally discharged condition three, which related to landscaping requirements.
This development marks a significant shift in the planning process for the site, which has been subject to criminal activity and security concerns. The conversion is now poised to move forward, creating a residential property while maintaining the green belt character that was central to the planning debate.
