Solihull News
The latest Solihull news: planning decisions, council and crime updates, business and community stories, each linked back to its official source.
Top story
Solihull Local Plan: 400 Homes a Year to 2028, Then 1,628
Cabinet backed Solihull's Local Plan on 29 September with a stepped target: 400 homes a year until 2028, rising to 1,628. Full Council votes on Tuesday 6 October.
More stories
Crime
Solihull Shoplifting: Addiction Scheme Arrives as Reports Rise
Offending 2 Recovery, which moves prolific shoplifters into addiction treatment, now runs in Solihull. Town centre reports hit 217 from April to July, up 37%.
Council
Solihull Free Advice: Citizens Advice Takes Over From 1 Oct
Solihull's free advice service passes to Citizens Advice on 1 October, with venues promised in all 17 wards. Help starts by phone; venues open in phases.
Schools
Ruckleigh School Company in Liquidation After Closure
The company behind Ruckleigh School, which closed in July after 117 years, went into creditors' liquidation on 22 September. Who to call if you are owed money.
Crime
Smith's Wood Crypto Robbery: £10,000 Reward Offered
Crimestoppers offers up to £10,000 over a December raid in Smith's Wood where a couple were made to transfer cryptocurrency. What police know, and how to help.
Property
Solihull House Prices: £337,112 in July, Rise Slows to 3.3%
Solihull's average home cost £337,112 in July, the second highest on record. The yearly rise slowed to 3.3% after June was revised up to a record £337,526.
Planning
Solihull Local Plan: 23,091 Homes to 2043, Vote on 6 Oct
Solihull's final draft Local Plan needs 1,289 homes a year, 58% more than in 2020, with 8,219 near railway stations. Cabinet backed it; Full Council votes 6 Oct.
Kingshurst
Kingshurst Village Centre: £23.9m Phase 2 Approved
Cabinet approved the £23.9m Kingshurst health, library and retail building on 17 September. Building starts before the year ends, and 47 more homes follow.
Council
Solihull Council Budget Report Names Section 114 Risk
Solihull's own Cabinet report says its section 151 officer may have to consider a Section 114 notice for 2027/28. July's overspend is £1.48m on a £244m budget.
Crime
Solihull Murder: Man Charged Over Shustoke Road Death
Kevin Johnson, 38, of Birmingham is charged with the murder of Stuart Nash in Shustoke Road. He is due at Birmingham Crown Court on 24 September.
Council
Solihull Zebra Crossings: The Five Roads Sharing £405,000
Five Solihull roads get new zebra crossings from £405,000 approved on 7 September, spent now because the safety data meant to pick the schemes is a year late.
Adult social care
Solihull Later Life Events: 9 and 12 Oct, Free, No Booking
Two free drop-in events on 9 and 12 October, no booking. Up to 16 stalls on care, money, housing and staying at home. Times, venues and who is there.
Jobs
JLR 4,000 Job Cuts: Solihull Support and Your Rights
JLR plans to cut about 4,000 non-production roles over two years. What ministers told MPs, the £500,000 WMCA jobs offer and the redundancy rules that apply.
Property
Solihull House Prices Up 4.2%, but Flat Since Last Autumn
Solihull's average home cost £334,966 in June, up £13,410 in a year. Almost all of that rise came last summer: prices have barely moved since September 2025.
Business
Knowle Jeweller and Elmdon Firm Among Nation's Favourites
Caroline Creba Fine Jewellery in Knowle and migraine eyewear brand Aura Clarity in Elmdon are on Small Business Saturday's 2026 list of favourite UK businesses.
Council
Solihull SEND Inspection: Long Waits, Inconsistent Plans
Ofsted and CQC rate Solihull's SEND arrangements 'inconsistent', the middle of three verdicts. Waits are too long and EHC plans vary. Re-inspection in 3 years.
Community
Chelmsley Wood Family Hub Garden Opens on £49,828 Grant
A £49,828 Severn Trent grant has turned unused ground at Chelmsley Wood's Riverside Family Hub into a sensory garden. 151 local families voted on the design.
Council
Solihull SEND: £33.9m debt write-off rests on this month
Solihull's SEND plan reaches scrutiny on 8 September. Approval this month would clear £33.9m of a £37.7m schools deficit. EHC plans are up 12% to 2,805.
Crime
Olton shop shut until 26 November over illegal vapes
Magistrates closed a Warwick Road convenience store on 26 August after it sold illegal tobacco and a vape to a child. It is the shop's second closure order.
Food and drink
Solihull Food Hygiene: 3 Zero Ratings, 79% Rated Five
Three Solihull premises hold a zero hygiene rating, the newest an Olton shop inspected 2 July. Two have held theirs over a year; 79% of the borough scores five.
Libraries
Solihull Libraries: 3 Get Out-of-Hours Entry From Winter
Dickens Heath, Hobs Moat and Balsall Common libraries get card-and-PIN access outside staffed hours from winter. Current hours, and how to have your say.
Planning
Solihull Planning: Mayor Could Call In 150-Home Schemes
The West Midlands mayor would be able to take over or refuse big Solihull applications from early 2027. The thresholds, and the 5 October consultation deadline.
Jobs
Solihull Jobs Guarantee: 275 Places, Referrals End October
Solihull has 730 claimants aged 18 to 21, up 40% in two years. A government scheme guarantees them a funded six-month job, but referrals stop in October.
Jobs
Solihull unemployment: under-25 claims up 30% in 2 years
Claims by 18 to 24 year olds in Solihull are up 30% in two years to 1,125, the steepest rise of the seven West Midlands metropolitan boroughs. Older age groups fell.
Education
Solihull GCSE results 2026: what to do if grades fell short
The council published no borough figures. Here is the West Midlands picture, the free drop-ins on 25 and 26 August, and the 24 September deadline to challenge a mark.
Planning
Solihull Solar Farm Refused: Councillors Overrule Officers
Councillors refused the 49.9MW Catherine de Barnes solar farm against officer advice, ruling the land is not grey belt. What the decision notice actually says.
Community
Solihull Care Home Chef in UK Final on a £4.50 Budget
Eastcote Park head chef Nigel Cooke is one of 12 in the national Care Chef of the Year final on 14 October: two courses, 90 minutes, £4.50 a head.
Education
Solihull T Level results 2026: 92% pass at the college
Solihull College reports a 92% T Level pass rate, and 100% in animal care, a course awarded for the first time this year. England's overall rate was 92.6%.
HS2
HS2 Solihull viaducts complete: 495m River Blythe span
All three HS2 viaducts in Solihull borough are structurally complete: River Blythe 495m, Balsall Common 430m, Marsh Farm 145m. Parapets follow by spring 2027.
Council
Solihull food waste caddies: your area's delivery date
Check when your area gets its food waste caddies: deliveries run in phases until 14 September, and weekly collections begin in the week of 5 October.
Planning
Solihull green belt: new study maps possible grey belt
Arup's updated assessment maps potential grey belt land across Solihull borough. The council says it sets no policy; the draft Local Plan is due in autumn 2026.