‘Access road not suitable’ Bickenhill residents and parish council against planned car dealership
New dealership in Solihull village opposed by residents(Image: Getty Images/Westend61)
Villagers have objected to a proposed new car dealership ahead of Solihull planners making a decision.
An application has been submitted to Solihull Council for land off Church Lane, previously used as a highway maintenance compound, to become used for commercial use.
It is currently uncertain who will make the final decision – the authority’s planning officers or the planning committee made up of councillors.
READ MORE: Inspectors find ‘significant’ improvement after murder that shocked the Midlands
We are now on WhatsApp. Join our dedicated community here
Applicant Shane Houston lodged the application with the authority to officially change the use to “vehicle storage and sales” on April 11.
A planning statement written by agents Stansgate Planning, included with the application, says temporary planning permission is being sought for three years.
“It (the site) is currently largely covered with a hardcore hardstanding, which was laid by highway maintenance workers as a temporary compound while upgrading the A45 or M42 motorway,” the statement says.
“Vehicles will be stored only on the hardstanding. The site area is 0.56 hectares and the capacity of the compound is about 50 to 100 vehicles.”
The statement says access by car to the site will be from Church Lane but stresses “90 per cent” of sales are made online or telephone.
“Once the sale is made the site operator will deliver the vehicle offsite to the purchaser’s address – in this circumstance, the purchaser does not visit the application site,” the agent says.
“10 per cent of sales are made onsite whereby the purchaser visits in person, pays onsite and drives the vehicle away – these visits are made by appointment only.
“Given its location beyond the end of the public road the site is unlikely to attract passing trade.”
The agent adds there would be no vehicle repairs made or test drives from the site for customers.
A consultation period ended last month and a Bickenhill resident has told the Local Democracy Reporting Service villagers have submitted objections which include concerns over the access being from Church Lane.
Bickenhill and Marston Green Parish Council has submitted an objection, which is available to view on Solihull Council’s website, with that authority also highlighting the access.
The council’s objection says: “This site has only been utilised on a temporary, not permanent, basis as a compound to assist gas mains works around the A45 /M42 Junction 6 highways modification.
“Since the temporary track access to the site has been removed and land currently being restored to its original condition, the only access will be via Church Lane which we do not believe is suitable for that amount of traffic and is a no through road.
“It is the parish council’s understanding that, in accordance with the conditions set out in the previously granted temporary planning application, this area should by now be in the process of being reinstated to agricultural grassland ahead of hand back to the land owner.”
If Solihull Council ‘s planning committee is tasked with making the decision the application could go before one of its meetings which are held monthly throughout the summer.
To view the plans search for application PL/2025/00793/PPFL at https://publicaccess.solihull.gov.uk/online-applications.