Knowle, Dorridge and Bentley Heath Neighbourhood Plan

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The Council has received an application to re-designate the Knowle, Dorridge and Bentley Heath Neighbourhood Forum.

In October 2015, Solihull Council approved a Neighbourhood Area application covering the villages of Knowle Dorridge and Bentley Heath (KDBH). At the same time, the KDBH Neighbourhood Forum was formally designated as the qualifying body authorised to act for the Area.

As a Neighbourhood Forum designation ceases to have effect after 5 years, the KDBH Neighbourhood Forum have formally applied to the Council to have their designation renewed. For the avoidance of doubt, the Neighbourhood Area does not need to be re-confirmed and the made Knowle, Dorridge and Bentley Heath Neighbourhood Plan remains unaffected.

The application is now subject to a period of public consultation which will close on Wednesday 23 September 2020. A copy of the application and supporting documents can be viewed below:

Any representations on whether the Knowle, Dorridge and Bentley Heath Neighbourhood Forum is capable of being designated as a Neighbourhood Forum, should be made in writing to Solihull MBC by email to psp@solihull.gov.uk

Comments should be received by no later than 5.00pm on Wednesday 23 September 2020. If the Knowle, Dorridge and Bentley Heath Neighbourhood Forum is designated, no other organisation or body may be designated for that Neighbourhood Area until that designation expires or is withdrawn.

Previous news

Knowle, Dorridge and Bentley Heath Neighbourhood Plan receives a ‘yes’ vote at referendum and is now ‘made’

The Knowle, Dorridge and Bentley Heath (KDBH) Neighbourhood Plan Referendum was held on Thursday 14 March 2019. Residents eligible to vote were asked "Do you want Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Knowle, Dorridge and Bentley Heath to help it decide planning applications in the Neighbourhood Area?"

The referendum result showed clear support for the Neighbourhood Plan with a total of 5056 votes cast in favour, with 207 votes against. The turnout was 35.66%. The ‘Declaration of Result of Poll’ can be viewed here.

The Neighbourhood Plan was formally ‘made’ by the Council at the Cabinet meeting on 11 April 2019. It will now be used by the Local Planning Authority to help it determine planning applications in the Neighbourhood Area. View the Knowle, Dorridge and Bentley Heath Neighbourhood Plan and the Council’s Decision Statement.

Knowle, Dorridge and Bentley Heath Neighbourhood Plan Referendum

Following an independent Examination of the KDBH Neighbourhood Plan, the Council has agreed that the Plan (as modified to accord with the agreed recommendations of the Independent Examiner and additional modifications / amendments by the Local Planning Authority) should proceed to referendum. See Cabinet Member for Managed Growth decision session of 22 January 2019.

The referendum on the KDBH Neighbourhood Plan took place on Thursday 14 March 2019.

Knowle, Dorridge and Bentley Heath Neighbourhood Plan Independent Examination

The report of the independent examination of the Knowle, Dorridge and Bentley Heath Neighbourhood Development Plan, prepared by Mr Robert Bryan BA Hons, Dip TP, MRTPI, has been received. The Examiners report is available to view here.

The report recommends that the Neighbourhood Plan should, subject to the recommended modifications, proceed to referendum. For transparency, copies of correspondence between the Examiner, Solihull MBC and the KDBH Neighbourhood Forum exchanged during the Examination can be viewed below:

Independent Examiner - Robert Bryan Examiners initial questions for Solihull Council - 10/07/18
Solihull MBC Response to the Examiners initial questions for Solihull Council - 19/07/18
KDBH Neighbourhood Forum Response to the Examiners initial questions for Solihull Council - 16/07/18
Independent Examiner - Robert Bryan Further information required of the Neighbourhood Forum - 08/08/18
KDBH Neighbourhood Forum Response to further information required - 15/08/18: Dorridge Centre and Bentley Heath Centre

Knowle, Dorridge and Bentley Heath Neighbourhood Plan Submission Draft

The KDBH Neighbourhood Forum formally submitted its Submission Draft Neighbourhood Plan to the Council. Consultation took place from Friday 4 May 2018 until Friday 15 June 2018. The Submission Draft and other supporting information can be viewed below:

Knowle, Dorridge and Bentley Heath Neighbourhood Plan Pre-Submission Draft

On 25 November 2017, in accordance with Regulation 14 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012, Knowle, Dorridge and Bentley Heath Neighbourhood Forum commenced consultation on their Pre-Submission Draft Neighbourhood Plan.

Knowle, Dorridge and Bentley Heath Neighbourhood Plan –Summary of Progress:

Neighbourhood Area and Neighbourhood Forum Application Submitted July 2015
Neighbourhood Area and Neighbourhood Forum Designated October 2015
Pre-Submission (Regulation 14) Consultation November 2017
Submission May 2018
Examination July - September 2018
Referendum 14 March 2019
Plan ‘Made’ April 2019

Further information about the Knowle, Dorridge and Bentley Heath Neighbourhood Forum and the Neighbourhood Plan can be found at www.kdbh-np.org