As your Member of Parliament for Solihull West & Shirley, I am deeply concerned by the decision to increase Solihull’s housing target by 52.1% while, at the same time, reducing Birmingham’s by 30.7%.
This approach is unfair and unsustainable. Our Borough is already facing growing pressure on local infrastructure – from congested roads and limited GP appointments, to oversubscribed schools and flooding risks in certain communities. Yet under the current formula, Solihull is being asked to shoulder a disproportionate share of housing growth.
Unlike Birmingham, which has at least 140 hectares of brownfield land ready for redevelopment, Solihull West & Shirley is characterised by its Green Belt, countryside, and valued local green spaces. These areas are not “spare land”: they are vital to our quality of life, supporting health and wellbeing, protecting wildlife, and acting as a buffer against urban sprawl. Once lost, they cannot be replaced.
Let me know your views in my survey below.