Leader of Solihull Council talks growth, conservation, and youth engagement

Last Thursday, the Cavendish Midlands Team had the pleasure of hosting another ‘Politics vs Planning’ event. October’s edition was the sixth in the series of lunchtime networking events, which connect colleagues in the built environment with key politicians from the Midlands region.??

Councillor Ian Courts, the Conservative Leader of Solihull Council, was our keynote guest speaker for this event. Councillor Courts has been a councillor since 2003 and become leader in 2019. His career has been steeped in the world of planning and development; a property lawyer, turned development professional, turned part-time lecturer in planning and development. It is no surprise, therefore, that Councillor Courts had some compelling insight into the built environment.?

Recently, Solihull Council has faced controversy, after the Planning Inspectorate suggested that they withdrew their Local Plan due to a perceived incompatibility with predicted housing need and land supply. At our event, Councillor Courts spoke in defence of the council’s decisions within the draft Local Plan.?

Here are three main takeaways from his speech:?

The greenbelt must continue to be protected.??

“My first love in life is wildlife and biodiversity.” From the beginning of his speech, Councillor Courts established himself as a strong advocate of wildlife and a protector of greenbelt land. He communicated his belief that the government’s new proposals for calculating housing needs overlook Solihull’s unique geography. Particularly, he pointed to the Meriden gap, the greenbelt land that separates Birmingham from Coventry, and voiced his concerns that the conclusion of too many new settlements in Solihull would be that this gap would no longer exist.??

Housing developers must prioritise the quality of their housing over high-density building.??

“It’s about a mixture of quality and quantity.” Councillor Courts reflected on how new developments must create liveable, enjoyable spaces that complement and preserve the character of the surrounding area. Tree planting, adequate parking provision, and green spaces are all important elements to him when considering how a worthwhile community can be created by developers.?

Establishing a dialogue with young people is vital for councillors and developers alike.?

“I think we need a new deal for young people.” Councillor Courts stressed the importance of ensuring young people do not have to leave the area they grew up in to get on the property ladder, and that it is vital to prioritise hearing the views of local young people when drawing up plans for housing. He also commented on how younger demographics are notoriously hard to open a dialogue with, and many appear disengaged.??

The Leader of Solihull Council ended his speech by stressing the need for more flexibility from Westminster when considering how councils can accommodate for growth. Solihull is a pro-growth council, he assured, but caution must be exercised to preserve Britain’s countryside and to ensure a high calibre of developments are being built.??

So, how can we help???

At Cavendish, we keep our finger on the pulse of local authorities. We maintain strong connections with their leaders, enabling us to help our clients understand high-level decision making, and the motivations behind those decisions. Through our expert understanding, we can ensure that organisations can communicate the benefits of their proposals effectively, whether it’s highlighting their ecological credentials, or the overall quality of their plans.??

When it comes to public consultations, we have taken important steps to ensure that young people are not left out of the planning process. We can support our clients through the use of digital tools, such as our Insights Data Platform, that delivers exclusive, up to date information on local areas and their perspectives, across various demographic groups. We also help organisations to harness online social media platforms, such as TikTok, and get young people engaged with their plans.?

If you have any questions regarding the above, or want to find out more about how Cavendish can support your organisation, please get in touch, at: [email protected].??

Written by Poppy Lown | Account Executive