The Solihull village with a Coventry postcode the community is on the frontlines of the contentious HS2 development and staff from the Council’s Planting Our Future team joined together this week to plant 500 new saplings at Katherine’s Wood in Lavender Hall Park will complement and further enhance the existing two-acre woodland at Katherine’s Wood members of the Berkswell Society have planted a community orchard at the park HS2 and residents of Balsall Common and Berkswell have all contributed to the planting projects said: “When we first planted Katherine’s Wood 19 years ago a place for people to reflect and find peace we have continued to add to the woodland with further planting and it has become a very special place for the local community.” said: “We are proud to deliver forestry and tree services in Solihull helping to protect and develop ecologically important places like Katherine’s Wood we’re committed to their ambition to plant 250,000 trees by 2030 with these 500 new saplings making a real difference to biodiversity and community wellbeing in the area added: "Aldi colleagues were pleased to be able to contribute to the development of Katherine’s Wood working alongside Solihull Council to help deliver the ambitions of the ‘Planting Our Future’ initiative to plant 250,000 trees in the borough by 2030 Sustainability is at the heart of Aldi’s commitment to be better every day so it’s great to work with partners like Solihull Council to achieve this." Katherine’s Wood was created in 2006 when 500 mixed native trees Supported by the Rotary Club of Meriden and a Big Lottery ‘Breathing Spaces’ grant the award-winning woodland expanded a few years later when 1,200 more trees were added along with daffodils and signage The woodland's significance is reflected in its numerous achievements It was designated as a Local Nature Reserve and earned prestigious Green Flag status in 2010 The Hope Stone was added after the pandemic in 2021 to symbolise hope in difficult times pay tribute to those who have suffered and give thanks to all those who helped The site holds special meaning for many community members and is the embodiment of its founding principles of Health For further information about Katherine's Wood please visit the dedicated Facebook page: @Katherineswoodbalsallcommon For further information about the Council’s Planting Our Future initiative, please visit - Planting Our Future | solihull.gov.uk © 2025 Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council HS2 has unveiled the latest bridge to be completed on the project and which will carry the high-speed line under the A452 Kenilworth Road A team of 50 people based on-site celebrated the final installations on the self-contained ‘box’ bridge structure following an 18-month build process This involved successfully installing 12 parapets which will act as safety barriers when traffic eventually passes over the bridge The colossal structure is 185 metres in length 19.5 metres in width and 13.9 metres in height – constructed using 7,200 cubic metres of concrete and 1,800 tonnes of steel.  work will begin on the embankments and landscaping the surrounding area on both sides of the bridge The team will reuse 80,000 cubic metres of material excavated from a nearby HS2 cutting made below ground level in Berkswell The backfill process will ensure the structure is enclosed ahead of the road being moved over the new bridge in early 2025 creating space for the railway to pass underneath The huge operation has been delivered by HS2’s construction partner for the West Midlands who are constructing 90 kilometres of HS2 between Long Itchington in Warwickshire to the centre of Birmingham and on to Staffordshire Civil engineering and groundwork specialists Galldris supported BBV with the complex build programme “It’s great to see another key HS2 milestone reached following 18 months of dedicated work from the project team “I congratulate everyone who has worked on the successful delivery of the bridge which puts us one step closer to completing this once in a generation railway that will transform journeys for millions.” “Completion of the A452 Kenilworth Road overbridge signifies a proud moment for everyone working on the project “As we celebrate the installation of the final parapets this week designers and everyone from our wider supply chain who are safely and successfully delivering this huge feat of engineering.” Senior Project Manager at Balfour Beatty VINCI “This bridge is a key structure that will allow HS2 trains to pass underneath the A452 near Balsall Common Standing almost 14 metres high and 185 metres in length the scale of this achievement is clear to see “The recent installation of the final parapets on the roof deck is a special moment for the entire BBV delivery team and our key supply chain partners who’ve worked tirelessly over the past 18 months to reach this point.” The overbridge was designed by the Mott MacDonald and SYSTRA Design Joint Venture (MMSDJV) and this marks the completion of a complex design process “I am immensely proud of the team for successfully delivering such a monumental and complex structure marking the culmination of a long and collaborative design team effort.” HS2 is building more than 500 bridging structures – including over 50 major viaducts These will stretch for a combined total of 15 kilometres (9 miles) across valleys As construction continues at pace between the West Midlands and London HS2 services will run between London and the West Midlands on a dedicated high-speed line before reaching destinations further north via the existing West Coast Main Line Britain’s new high-speed railway will provide significantly more efficient and faster journeys while crucially freeing up space on the most congested part of the West Coast Main Line allowing more local and freight trains to operate The Mayor of Solihull has officially opened the brand new Frog Lane Country Trail in Balsall Common The trail was formally opened to the public on Tuesday 4 June with the Mayor and Deputy Lieutenant in attendance to welcome guests and celebrate the opening which connects onto existing public footpaths The opening was also celebrated by a group of Year 2 pupils from Balsall Common Primary School who scattered Flora Britannica wildflower seeds on a prepared soil bed This wildflower mix was chosen as it is especially colourful and blooms all year round complementing the nature trail and surrounding agricultural land made up of British native species - including hawthorn and new ponds have been created on the site and unique brass rubbing posts have been provided to help create an interactive sensory walking trail so visitors can enjoy the surroundings and find out more about the wildlife and green space around them This biodiverse natural green habitat will encourage a wider range of plants to grow and attract a variety of insects and animals to the area Enhancing the natural environment through rewilding will also result in increased carbon capture “It was my pleasure to officially open the Frog Lane Country Trail to the public and I welcome the creation of another fantastic biodiverse green space here in Solihull It is vital that we continue to preserve and enhance our natural environment and it was lovely to celebrate all the hard work that’s gone into creating this wonderful new habitat “I really enjoyed helping the pupils from Balsall Common Primary School to scatter their wildflower seeds and I look forward to returning to Frog Lane to see how the Flora Britannica flowers grow This beautiful nature trail is a fantastic addition to the community and I hope visitors enjoy it just as much as the new wildlife will!” Headteacher at Balsall Common Primary School Academy said: “We are delighted to work in such close partnership with the Council and the community to keep seeing improvements to our local area Our school is delighted to be able to celebrate the opening of this new pathway giving us access to a greater range of wildlife environments and experiences.” Plan for 250 homes in Balsall Common(Image: Solihull Council/Brownhill Hayward Brown)Solihull councillors are set to make a decision on whether to approve hundreds of homes in Balsall Common next week after being delayed by a legal challenge Applicant Barwood Development Securities Ltd wants to build 250 homes - half of them affordable - on land at Pheasant Oak Farm, in Hob Lane off Waste Lane in the Solihull village The plans include a children’s play area; community orchard and ecological areas; pedestrian and cycle access from Waste Lane and Windmill Lane to "enhance connection into the village" and a sustainable drainage system READ MORE : Applicant fights Solihull Council over refusal of HMO extension Get the latest court and crime news direct via our WhatsApp community here A decision had been set to be made at a meeting of Solihull Council ’s planning committee earlier this month But, as the Local Democracy Reporting Service previously reported, the decision was put on hold while the authority sought “urgent” legal advice to clarify how applications on green belt land should be determined going forward. The legal challenge from Shoosmiths solicitors drew particular attention to the way in which the council undertakes assessments against the grey belt test - grey belt being lower quality green belt land which means the site would be able to be used for housing. In the latest report prepared for members of the committee, planning officers have again said they judge the Balsall Common land to be grey belt. “The proposal would utilise grey belt land," planning officers write. “There is an identified demonstrable unmet housing need for the type of development proposed. “The development would through developer contributions towards improvements to local infrastructure meet the ‘golden rules’ requirements (grey belt tests).” One of the key concerns raised during public consultations was the effect a new housing site would have on the Grade II Listed building Berkswell Windmill. In its submission Historic England wrote: “The main designated heritage asset affected by the scheme is the impressive tower windmill of Berkswell Mill. “This is one of the best surviving tower mills in the West Midlands and is a picturesque feature of the landscape. “We feel this development would cause a lower level of less than substantial harm to the Grade II listed building’s significance and setting - it is vital then that the council are fully satisfied of its (the homes) potential impact.” Solihull planners recommend outline planning permission is granted subject to conditions. The application can be viewed on the authority’s website by searching for application PL/2023/02214/PPOL at https://publicaccess.solihull.gov.uk/online-applications. The planning committee meeting, which is open to the public, is being held at the Civic Suite from 5.30pm on Wednesday, April 30. The meeting will also be available to watch live on the council’s website solihull.gov.uk. HS2 has today [Wednesday 20 March] announced the public’s preferred design options for a landmark HS2 viaduct near Solihull after a vote by people in Balsall Common design options for the appearance and patterning of Balsall Common viaduct’s acoustic parapets HS2 committed to this further engagement to fulfil a condition following planning approval for the viaduct in September 2023 by Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council Around 4,500 event invitations were sent to local residents with 240 people opting to attend the four events in Balsall Common to provide feedback on the design options Online feedback was also available for those who couldn’t attend the events in person A majority of 73% of the 203 people that voted chose a highly polished parapet against 26% that voted for the pattern over Station Road only The green-coloured parapet came in as the third preferred option with 19% of votes A majority of 55% chose the Weave pattern for the viaduct 12% for Brick and 10% for a pattern making reference to the Forest of Arden 59% of people voted for additional woodland compared with 28% for marshland,  and 10% for conserving the landscape character As part of the feedback we also received a significant number of written responses asking if a blend of woodland and marshland could be included in the final planning application indicated a clear preference for the options put forward by HS2 through the planning process and recommended for approval by Solihull Council Planning Officers So what do these results mean in terms of design The innovative polished concrete parapet option is designed to allow the colour of the sky different lighting conditions and taller local vegetation to be reflected back to the viewer The weave motif as the pattern for the viaduct represents the history of textile production in the area The overall landscape scheme will aim to increase biodiversity through planting seeding and introducing more marshland habitat The additional woodland planting is on the Balsall Common side of the viaduct with more trees and shrubs around the fishing lakes to provide additional screening of the viaduct The more naturalistic design for the woodland on the Berkswell side and along Baileys Brook will maintain some of the previous landscape characteristics which are so important to the local community It will build on the network of well-maintained hedgerows with mature oak trees and strengthens the vegetation alongside Baileys Brook  The additional woodland will be mixed with more marshland features underneath the viaduct responding to written feedback requests for a blended solution along the line of Baileys Brook towards Lavender Hall Lane to link with a further area of wetland being created there “We’d like to thank people in Balsall Common for choosing the design details for this landmark viaduct and surrounding landscape in the West Midlands We’re pleased that there were clear winners for all three elements and that this was in line with our original proposals to the Council we’ve involved the community at all stages of the design to ensure we get the best result for everyone and over the last two years this commitment to inclusive design has helped us refine the appearance of the viaduct structure and its sensitive integration into its environment and community context.”  The viaduct is being built by HS2’s main works contractor supported by a Design Joint Venture of Mott MacDonald and SYSTRA together with architects Weston Williamson + Partners and Lead Architect for the Balfour Beatty VINCI Design Joint Venture  “This engagement is the latest in a long journey of continual dialogue since 2018 with the local authority the HS2 Independent Design Panel and the local community  “We are delighted that we had a very clear majority vote from local residents in favour of the stone-like polished concrete acoustic parapets which will make a significant contribution to the unique character of the structure The reflective qualities of these parapets will pick up on the tone and colour of the sky and surroundings when combined with the whole design team’s efforts in optimising and refining the viaduct sculpting and reducing the size of piers and blending the ends of the structure into landscaped embankments will help integrate the viaduct into its setting.”  BBV have started constructing the 16 piers which will carry the 425 metre-long viaduct up to 10 metres above ground the Heart of England Way Walk and the local floodplain Construction refinements have reduced the size of each pier by as much as 17% for single piers and 28% for double piers giving the structure a lighter appearance and reducing the viaduct’s embodied carbon