Idyllic West Midlands villages will be reclassified as towns after 'decision of national significance'
Solihull Council committee agrees to re-classify quaint villages as towns for planning purposes
A Solihull Council committee meeting has agreed to move forward to redefine Dorridge, Knowle and Bentley Heath as a single town for planning purposes and to ‘protect’ the green belt.
Similarly, Balsall Common will be reclassified as its own town. Councillors stressed the move was for “planning purposes” only and residents would still live in self-contained villages.
The town policy was approved at the meeting last night.
At a council meeting session called, ‘CPH Climate Change & Planning Decision Session’ which took place virtually yesterday evening (23 October).
The committee listened to the findings of the online survey, which had more than 160 respondents.
The questionnaire took place over the summer, for just over 6 weeks (11 July until 25 August 2025).
Results from a six-week consultation showed 55 per cent of the 165 residents supported the change.
A total of 40 per cent said they thought Balsall Common should become a single settlement.
Councillor Andy Mackiewicz said the matter had become "a decision of national significance, this, isn't it now" when the topic was introduced during the meeting.
The key points that the council drew from the report was that ‘population by itself’ should not be used to determine whether a settlement is a town or a village, rather ‘it should be used in conjunction with other things’. These other factors include the range, type and availability of services in a particular area.
The council also floated the idea that Dickens Heath could potentially become a town and agreed to discuss the matter next year.
The report author, Emma Tinsley-Evans, said: “Overall and based on the consultation responses we received. Based on the methodology and the evidence that we used for the draft settlements hierarchy. The recommendation remains unchanged, and we’re recommending that Knowle, Dorridge and Bentley Heath as a single area would be defined as a town and a large-built up area. Similarly, Balsall Common should also be redefined as a town and a large-built up area.”
Emma Tinsley-Evans also stated that while there is some support for Dickens Heath to be redefined as a town, on this occasion it will not be as it lacks population size and also services needed to be recognised as a town.
Councillor Oliver Farr said. “It’s difficult because to a lot of people, the idea of a village is kind of a nice high street and a community and a town is a bit depersonalised, a bit more industrial. But for the purposes of this, to protect the Green Belt, it almost needs to be a town.”
The committee agreed that this re-classification was mostly for for planning purposes and that residents can still refer to their communities as villages, despite them now being re-classified as towns.
It can be viewed on Solihull Council’s website solihull.gov.uk.
A spokesperson from Solihull Council told BirminghamWorld:
“Last night the cabinet portfolio holder made the decision to approve the recommendations from officers regarding the Solihull Settlement Hierarchy.
As such, this decision will be operative from next Friday (31 October).”