Solihull feels like a straightforward borough — mostly suburban, well-established, plenty of extensions going up all the time. So it's tempting to assume your project will sail through. But approval rates vary enormously depending on exactly where your property sits, what's been built nearby, and factors you probably haven't considered yet. WhatCanIBuild can show you what's actually been approved and refused for properties like yours in Solihull — which is far more useful than a general overview.
The short version
- Solihull has 387 listed buildings, and being near one can affect your application even if yours isn't listed
- Green Belt designation covers parts of the borough and creates a very different set of rules
- What got approved on your neighbour's extension doesn't mean yours will be treated the same way
Your postcode is just the start
Solihull spans a surprisingly wide range of environments — from urban Chelmsley Wood and Marston Green in B36 and B37, to the rural edges near Balsall Common and Knowle in CV7 and CV8. Planning policy doesn't treat these areas the same. A rear extension that raises no eyebrows in one part of the borough might trigger concerns about character, scale, or Green Belt encroachment in another. Most homeowners don't realise that two houses on the same road can face different constraints depending on their specific plot, orientation, or planning history.
The things that quietly complicate applications
Solihull has 387 listed buildings recorded across the borough. If your property isn't one of them, you might assume you're in the clear — but proximity to a listed building can still influence how your application is assessed. Then there's Green Belt land, which covers parts of the borough and comes with its own set of considerations that go well beyond standard householder rules. Conservation areas add another layer. Article 4 Directions can remove permitted development rights in specific streets without any obvious signage. Each of these can silently shift your odds, and most homeowners only find out when the decision notice arrives.
Don't assume permitted development means you're fine
Even if your project looks like it falls within permitted development, constraints like Article 4 Directions or listed building status can mean full planning permission is still required. The rules on your specific property aren't always obvious.
Why your neighbour's approval doesn't predict yours
This is where most people go wrong. Someone two doors down got permission for a large rear extension — so yours should be fine, right? Not necessarily. Councils assess each application individually. The design, materials, exact dimensions, relationship to boundaries, and the officer handling the case all play a role. What was approved before a conservation area boundary was redrawn, or before an Article 4 Direction came into force, may not reflect what's possible now. The best way to understand your actual odds is to look at what's been approved and refused for similar projects on your specific street — which is exactly what WhatCanIBuild surfaces.
The £548 question
A householder application in Solihull costs £548 in fees alone — before you factor in drawings, reports, or any pre-application advice. That's before the eight-week wait for a decision. Going in without understanding your realistic chances isn't just stressful. It's expensive. The combination of constraints on your property — Green Belt proximity, listed building setting, conservation area, planning history — affects your odds in ways that a general guide can't tell you. WhatCanIBuild gives you the property-level picture: what's been approved nearby, what got refused and why, and what your specific situation actually looks like before you commit.
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