A growing campaign is underway in Clopton Crescent to stop the imminent sale of a local community space known as “The Depot” — with residents urging Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council (SMBC) to explore alternative, community-led uses instead.
The campaign group, recently formed on Facebook, has mobilised local residents and councillors in a bid to pause the sale scheduled for 10 July 2025. The group has also submitted an application to register The Depot as an Asset of Community Value (ACV), which would give the community a chance to bid for and preserve the space.
Last week, over 50 residents gathered with four local councillors — Hancock, Dawkins, Cole and Donnelly — at a community meeting to discuss the future of The Depot and strengthen opposition to the sale. The meeting reflected strong community spirit and concern about the lack of communication and transparency surrounding the council’s plans.
The campaigners are preparing to deliver a formal petition to the Solihull MBC Full Council meeting on Tuesday 8 July at 5:15pm. The petition demands two key actions:
- The immediate halt of The Depot’s sale;
- Collaboration between the council, residents, and local groups to explore community-led alternatives under the ACV process.
In a recent Facebook post, campaign organisers said:
“In just over a week we have started a campaign to get this sale paused! We met with 50 plus local residents and 4 local councillors! We have an application going in to keep the depot as an Asset of Community Value. We’re arranging a petition to be hand delivered to the council, involving the press to highlight the lack of communication and transparency in regards to the sale, and taking legal advice regarding covenants. Community spirit is alive and well on this estate.”
Local residents and supporters are encouraged to attend the meeting at 5:15pm at the Civic Suite, where the petition will be presented and discussed.
The campaign aims to ensure The Depot remains a valuable community resource — safeguarding it from sale and potential redevelopment — and to push for transparent, inclusive decision-making by the council.
The petition can be signed here.