I'm frightened my charming village near Birmingham Airport and the M42 could be wiped off the map

If you ever doubted a local authority’s willingness to bulldoze a community’s way of life, Policy SG24 in the South Warwickshire Local Plan should make you think again.

This proposal targets Hockley Heath, a picturesque rural village in Solihull, surrounded by farmland and cherished for its greenbelt landscape.

Read more: I spent 15 years saving for a home in a desirable West Midlands village, but now it might be swamped with 5,000 new houses

Yet, somewhere in the planning offices of Leamington Spa, someone - or perhaps an entire team - deemed it reasonable to suggest cramming thousands of new houses into this small village.

The consequences would be devastating: not only would this plan carve up precious Green Belt land, but it would also shatter the quality of life for local residents and, as I’ll explain, even threaten their health.

It’s worth noting that we are at the "Preferred Options" stage of the plan, and the consultation has concluded.

But if Angela Rayner and her authoritarian-minded allies have their way, that consultation might be little more than a formality.

Let me explain.

Labour’s Planning Reforms: Silencing Objections

In the past, objecting to such developments might have made a difference.

But under Labour’s planning reforms (legislation introduced on March 11), challenging life-altering proposals - even on legitimate grounds - may soon become a futile exercise.

They’re essentially making it easier to push through developments without scrutiny or public accountability - something more reminiscent of an authoritarian regime than a democracy.

Centralising decision-making and imposing policies against the will of local communities is nothing new for left-wing governments - but this goes even further.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has hailed the reforms as “seismic,” promising “the biggest building boom in a generation” by sweeping away what she calls the “bureaucratic burden” that has, until now, slowed development.

Apparently, listening to public concerns now qualifies as a bureaucratic inconvenience.

We’re told this policy marks a return to “Strategic Planning.” If that’s truly the case, SG24 should be scrapped within weeks. Here’s why.

The Real Concerns: More Than Just NIMBYism

The concerns about SG24 are numerous and serious.

And before any city-dwellers accuse locals of NIMBYism, let’s be clear - this isn’t just about objecting to change.

It’s about protecting communities, infrastructure and the environment from reckless, unsustainable development.

The proposed developments pose a serious threat to local biodiversity, destroying vital habitats and undermining the natural ecosystem.

Several projects are planned on Green Belt land, accelerating urban sprawl and leading to the irreversible loss of the countryside.

And countryside is the reason I moved to Hockley Heath.

The existing infrastructure is already mildly strained and cannot support thousands of additional homes.

• Roads – Key routes like Stratford Road are already congested at peak times. More homes mean more cars, worsening traffic and increasing air pollution, which directly affects public health.
• Public Transport – Bus services are inadequate, sometimes running just once an hour. There is no plan to fund additional services, as far as I can tell.
• Schools – The primary school on School Road is already nearly at capacity. Yet, the plan makes no true commitments for funding new schools or clarifying school catchment arrangements.
• Healthcare – There is no GP surgery in the village, meaning residents rely on services in Dorridge. Meanwhile, Solihull Hospital lacks an A&E department, forcing residents to travel to Heartlands or Warwick Hospital - both are some distance away, especially in traffic.

Hockley Heath is a small, close-knit community, and SG24 threatens to completely change its character.

The influx of thousands of new residents could erode community cohesion.

Existing flooding problems in the area may be exacerbated by this development.

The Bigger Question: What Is This Government Trying to Achieve?

It’s hard to decipher what Labour’s real objective is here.

If the goal were truly to provide housing where jobs exist, the logical approach would be to expand cities - both outwards and upwards - where infrastructure already supports growth.

But instead, we see the same visionless, socialist mindset at play: A belief that if some people grew up in hardship or without access to green spaces, then everyone else should too. I saved for 15 years to afford a house in this part of Warwickshire/Solihull.

Their mission to build 1.5 million homes by the next election is nothing more than a box-ticking exercise, a mass rollout of developments that fail to consider long-term sustainability, infrastructure or community well-being.

In doing so, they risk sacrificing cherished rural communities and ruining hard-earned lives - for nothing more than short-term political gains.

Read more: 'I live in the West Midlands' most expensive village and I'm terrified for the future'

A One-Term Government? It Should Be.

There are plenty of reasons why this Government doesn’t deserve a second term. But this reckless, unaccountable approach to planning should be near the top of the list.

SG24 is unsustainable, damaging and fundamentally flawed. And I’m sure there are many other proposals like it around the country.

And if this Government is willing to bulldoze rural communities with this kind of disregard, voters should return the favour at the ballot box.

The south Warwickshire Plan can be viewed here.

Get the latest headlines delivered straight to your inbox with BirminghamWorld’s free newsletter