Our ambitions -an attractive and aspirational place

• In 2024, there were 17 Green Flag parks in Solihull, up from ten in 2012.
• By 2030, the number of homes in Solihull is projected to increase from 93,643 to 102,800.
• 40% of 16-64-year-olds are qualified to Level 4 and above, higher than the England average of 37% (2021 Census). 

Solihull is consistently named as one of the best places to live in the UK, home to a thriving town centre, well-maintained parks, and high-quality schools. There is a high level of social cohesion across Solihull’s communities, with 84% of respondents to the 2025 Place Survey agreeing that people from different backgrounds get on well together in their local area. 

Housing and housebuilding play an enormous part in the wellbeing and prosperity of our region, and the Council has a broad housing role of acting as an investor, provider, enabler, regulator and enforcer. We are also a landlord, owning around 10,000 council houses. Our council houses are managed by Solihull Community Housing who work in partnership with us across a range of priorities including housing delivery, decent and safe homes and supporting those affected by homelessness.

Solihull’s population is projected to increase from 217,700 to 230,400 by 2030. There will be smaller households, and a continued growth of the older population and in the number of people with disabilities, reflecting greater housing demand across the borough. We have always tried to be pragmatic in our approach, identifying sufficient land to provide the homes and employment opportunities the borough needs, whilst maintaining the environment which makes our borough special. 

Previously, we have been clear in our intent not to agree further incursions into the green belt, when we believed other options were available. Under the new National Planning Policy Framework, the number of new homes we will have to accommodate will increase by 52%, meaning that tough choices will have to be made. Meeting the Government’s requirement to provide large numbers of new homes will be challenging, not only to provide the infrastructure needed, but also in how we preserve the environmental character that makes Solihull such a special place. 

Following the withdrawal of the Solihull Local Plan in October 2024, we are currently preparing a new Local Plan. This will aim to influence development in Solihull in the most appropriate and sustainable way by ensuring a broad range of sizes and types of houses, of different tenures and values, is provided to meet all needs within the borough, while meeting national planning policies. This includes provisions for more starter homes, affordable housing and social housing across the borough to increase accessibility for firsttime buyers and key workers, with particular emphasis on those with local connections to Solihull. 

Given that two thirds of the borough’s land is green belt, we need to ensure that future developments maintain respect for the environment. This includes maintaining space for nature and providing a biodiversity net gain and ultimately protecting and complementing the beauty of our borough. It is also vital that new development helps tackle climate change. Our previous Local Plan had a requirement for all new homes to be net zero carbon, and we are keen to maintain this in the future. 

Good quality housing is the cornerstone of health and wellbeing, providing the foundation for physical, social, and psychological safety and security. We will prioritise the safety, quality, and energy efficiency of existing Council homes, ensuring that our tenants and leaseholders are safe, and demonstrate that we are meeting Social Housing and Building Safety Regulations, including the consumer standards.

Key activities 

• Progress the Local Plan to ensure a framework is in place to guide development to the right places, whilst protecting what makes Solihull special.
• Work with partners to deliver new council and affordable housing, which meets a range of needs.
• Improve housing standards in the private sector and work to tackle, support and prevent homelessness.
• Work towards an enhanced well-connected natural environment, through our tree planting scheme and wildlife projects.

Next page: How we will deliver