PLANNING Inspectors have called for Solihull’s Local Pan to be withdrawn over a shortfall of land supply in the borough.
Following the Council’s letters to the Planning Inspectorate in February and May as well as further submissions last month, they have now responded to the Council.
The Council said it set out an improved land supply position, and other potential revisions to the plan to enable it to be found sound.
However, the Inspectors believe that there will remain a significant shortfall in the land supply for the borough.
The Inspectors also believe that the contribution of 2,000 homes in Solihull to help meet the needs of areas outside Solihull is a fundamental element of the plan that should be delivered by 2031.
They have therefore concluded that Solihull’s Local Plan should be withdrawn from Examination.
In a letter to the Council from Inspectors Kevin Ward and Kelly Ford it says: “There is a fundamental issue with soundness in terms of the supply of housing which the Council is not willing to address. The examination has already been going on for over three years since the Local Plan was submitted and has already been subject to a lengthy pause.
“We set out our concerns on housing supply in our letter of September 5 2022. It has in effect already been delayed for two years without any progress.
“Even if the Council did now agree to undertake work to allocate additional housing sites to address the shortfall, this would take a further significant amount of time to identify sites, carry out assessments and consultations and hold further hearings etc. It is also the case that the evidence base for other aspects of the Local Plan may need to be revisited due to the passage of time.
“We have reached the point where we have concluded that the Local Plan should be withdrawn.
“The only alternative to this would be for the Council to ask us to proceed with our report. However, this would inevitably recommend that the Local Pan is not adopted and would involve additional time and cost.”
A copy of their letter dated September 4 2024 is available on the examination web page.
Councillor Ian Courts, leader of the Council said: “We are deeply disappointed in the Inspectors’ conclusions, which could have massive implications for the borough.
“We have consistently set out a pragmatic approach to the Inspectors, to enable them to progress the examination in a positive and timely manner. We had sought to plan positively and sustainably for the homes and economic growth opportunities the borough needs, whilst working collaboratively with our neighbours.
“However, it seems the Inspectors are insistent on further substantial loss of Green Belt, along the lines of recent government pronouncements, rather than a pragmatic plan.
“We will need to carefully consider our next steps and will do so with the best long-term interests of the borough in mind.”
