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Almost seven years in its planning and design, the new village of Dickens Heath began taking shape at the end of 1997. Located in a rural setting beside the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal and only 3 miles from Solihull Town Centre, it will, when completed, become home to a population of over 2,000 people. It is the second new village to be created in Hockley Heath Parish within 30 years, the nearby Cheswick Green having been built in the 1970s.

The origin of the new village was rooted in the decisions made by the Council in 1989 in response to its required search for land to accommodate 8,100 new homes between 1988 and 2001.

The Solihull Unitary Development Plan -the statutory land-use document that, amongst other things, designates land for future housing and business purposes as well as establishing the Green Belt - proposed a settlement of 850 new houses adjacent to the existing two hamlets off Dickens Heath Road and Tythebarn Lane. It took advantage of the opportunities afforded by the canal and nearby woodland and of it being surrounded by Green Belt countryside.

The Plan was subject to a public inquiry into objections in 1991 and, in the light of the favourable view of the Government Inspector, the Council finally approved the principle of the Dickens Heath project in December 1992. At the outset, the Council decided that Dickens A Heath should be given special treatment. Rather than it become simply a large housing estate in the country, the view was taken that the new settlement should possess the features and attributes of a traditional village.

In 1991 the Council retained the services of London architects, John Simpson and Partners, whose original concept plan was subsequently developed and refined, in partnership with the Consortium of Developers, to become the approved Master Plan in 1995.The Master Plan has at its heart four key principles: It proposed that the new village should:

	have a clear identity which gives residents a sense of place and belonging.
	echo the traditional features of village development including homes, employment, recreation, social and welfare facilities intermixed to create a cohesive whole.
	Provide a range of housing, from first time buyer housing through to family housing and smaller units suitable for the elderly, thereby creating a mixed community of all ages and income.
	Create a safe and pleasing environment for pedestrians while still accommodating the motor car, but without allowing it to dominate the environment.
	The aim was therefore to create a unique settlement characterised by well-planned, imaginative layouts possessing individualistic and rural styles.

850 houses of different types, sizes, tenures and prices to meet the needs of a mixed community. Two-form entry pri-mary school Linear village centre, accommodating shops, businesses, library, medical centre, church, homes Village Green Public squares Parkland Wharf on the Canal Circular walks Nature reserve Public Houses

The development of a new village presents a rare and exciting challenge and a series of imaginative approaches will be taken to all aspects of design.
In this respect, all development will be required to attain the highest standard of design, layout and landscaping, the aim being to ensure the new settlement has a distinctive identity and an attractive character. Thus, the physical form and visual appearance will be designed to produce a recognisable community, with a village atmosphere and using the rural location to provide an attractive setting.
In echoing the characteristics of a traditional village, the design of Dickens Heath will be based on a high density core around the village centre, with densities diminishing towards the edges, thus presenting a softer transition to the adjoining countryside.
At the centre and on the main highway network will be a series of public squares, each with its own distinct character and each possessing landmark buildings.
A design guide lays down broad principles for developers to observe. These include the layout of the squares, the street pattern, building heights, the relationship of houses to the street, the pitch and colour of roofs, parking and garaging. The purpose is to encourage good design which will ensure continuity in the character and visual appearance of the new village.

At the heart of the settlement will be the village green. Triangular in shape and occupying a site of 1.05 hectares (2.6 acres), it will be a major focus for sports events and informal recreation. And in the typical English tradition it will possess a cricket square and associated pavilion. One of its principal features will be a regular line of trees at approximately 10 metre intervals around the entire perimeter.
To the south, and acting as a transition between the village and countryside beyond Brags Farm Lane, will be a sizeable area of parkland. Some 7 hectares (17.1 acres) in extent and accessed directly from the southern square, it will afford the opportunity for informal recreation in a natural setting. Existing trees and hedgerows will be retained, with all new planting adding to the natural and informal ambiance of the area.

The countryside surrounding Dickens Heath is part of the ancient Arden landscape. This rural area is characterised by small field patterns with species rich, old hedgerows interspersed by mature oak trees. Roads are narrow with sunken green lanes. The Stratford upon-Avon canal, which links Solihull with Warwickshire, flows around the edge of the village and is popular with canal boaters. Herons, kingfishers and ducks can be seen along this wildlife corridor, also home to bats, foxes and badgers. Several woodlands are found in the area, including remnants of the ancient Forest of Arden, dating from 1600 or earlier.

These provide homes for a diverse range of wildlife and rare plants including bluebells, wood anemones and wood sorrel. There are two Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) nearby, Little Tyburn Coppice and Big & Little Dickens Wood. Within the village itself, remain some important hedgerows and trees. A tree lined inner-circular walkway links up the cycleway and canal side walkway, which allows all parts of the village to be reached by foot. The canal side walkway provides an ideal location for a peaceful stroll along the water's edge. Village Centre The focal point of the settlement will be the main village square, located at its highest point at the junction of Dickens Heath Road and Rumbush Lane. Here the church site will provide a landmark for both the square and the village green. The village centre will be in the form of a linear street running downhill from the main square to the southern square and the adjoining canal wharf.

Pedestrians and cyclists will be given priority in the village, with traffic nuisance kept to a minimum.
Traffic entering the settlement will be dispersed along three main routes which will be subject to traffic calming to produce design speeds of 25mph.
Cars will not be excluded from the village centre. They form part of the activity which will bring life to its heart, and informal parking will be permitted in the street and square. However, the linear form of the village centre will ensure that all essential facilities should be within walking distance of most residents, thus reducing the number of car journeys.
It is intended to provide two circular pedestrian walks: one within the village identified by tree-lined footpaths, and an outer one alongside the canal and around the western edge of the settlement, subject to agreement with landowners.
Dickens Heath is close to Whitlocks End Station on the Birmingham - Stratford-on-Avon railway line. Although it will be within walking distance for some residents, plans have nevertheless been approved to increase car parking provision to encourage park-and-ride.

The Council has earmarked two small sites on the southern periphery of the village for future expansion. Totalling 3.8 hectares (9.4 acres), they would provide for a further 90 or so houses. The final decision as to whether they will be developed will be made in the next two or three years. The village street will contain a mixture of uses. These will include a general store/post office and possibly other small shop units, small office suites, a multipurpose community hall and library, a medical centre and a variety of homes. Obviously, the amount of retail and business floor space will depend on market demand.

Focus on Dickens Heath
Dickens Heath Residents Association
Photographs of Dickens Heath
Dickens Heath Village Church