Why councils are reclassifying villages as towns to challenge government planning rules

"Solihull Council has proposed reclassifying four villages - Knowle, Dorridge, Bentley Heath and Balsall Common - as towns to limit the impact of grey belt planning reforms. By changing how these settlements are officially defined, councils aim to influence where development can take place and protect the character of rural areas. Solihull's Draft Settlement Hierarchy consultation proposes that certain rural settlements be considered towns rather than villages."

"Solihull Councillor Andy Mackiewicz said: "There are clearly now specific consequences to whether a settlement is considered a village or a town, which will influence the interpretation of green belt policy and have implications for the location of new development." National Planning Policy Framework rules provide stronger protections for towns compared to villages. Villages in grey belt areas can be more easily merged or targeted for housing, whereas towns are considered more established settlements and are less likely to be included in large-scale rural development plans."

Councils in England are using settlement reclassification to shield green belt land from national grey belt housing pressures. Solihull Council proposes reclassifying Knowle, Dorridge, Bentley Heath and Balsall Common from villages to towns to reduce susceptibility to development under grey belt rules. Reclassification alters official settlement definitions, influencing planning interpretations and directing where new development can occur while preserving rural character. National Planning Policy Framework protections are stronger for towns than villages, making reclassified settlements less likely targets for large-scale rural development. Other councils, including Oxford City Council and Castle Point Borough Council, are pursuing similar strategies and legal challenges.

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