Unpopular plans for new homes in Solihull cannot be dropped purely because of the weight of public opposition, the council's Deputy Leader has warned.

The council is continuing to develop a new version of its Local Plan having previously published a draft document, which set out proposals for some 6,000 new properties at sites around the borough.

Many of the sites suggested have attracted criticism locally, but Cllr Ian Courts, who is also cabinet member for managed growth, said this week that the strength of feeling had to be backed up with evidence.

He noted that the local authority would be "interrogated" about its decision process by an independent inspector and that changing tack without giving sound planning reasons wouldn't be accepted.

Solihull Council
Solihull Council

"If we say 'that site had the most objections so we took it out', that will not wash with an inspector, in fact it would be struck down," he said.

"If all those objections have valid planning background like, I don't know, flood risk ... right that's it. But just because there's a lot of objections isn't anything to do with it.

"We have to support [changes] with evidence."

His comments came as councillors received a report providing an update on the progress being made.

A Local Plan had previously been adopted in 2013, but a review was launched a couple of years later after a developer won a legal battle against the local authority.

A consultation on the updated proposals received more than 1,700 responses, including various appeals from residents to alter or abandon certain elements.

At the same time, Solihull is having to juggle its responsibilities to help meet the housing needs of the wider region, with neighbouring authorities pressing the council to build more than the 2,000 homes it has identified for this purpose.

Cllr Max McLoughlin (Green, Shirley South) said the council had an opportunity to show it had listened to public concern as it prepares to publish a supplement including additional or alternative sites

"[This is] possibly significant for members of the public who would like to see some adjustments made to the sites in the original draft of the plan.

"I know that the pressure on us all is always going to be - whether it's neighbouring authorities or changes in national legislation - to increase the numbers irrespective of what those numbers are.

"[But] the significant point is that it's made clear that we are adjusting how we do so in light of what our residents, who we are ultimately accountable to, think."

This prompted the warning from Cllr Courts that while representations would be taken into consideration, any changes had to be backed up by evidence.

The latest timetable suggests that the plan would be adopted in spring or summer 2020.

Gary Palmer, from Solihull Council's planning department, said: "We want to have a plan in place as quickly as possible.

"But what we want to also ensure is that when we put a plan forward for submission and examination it has the best prospects of being found sound."