Kenilworth Road, Knowle, Solihull

An entertainer’s home in the truest sense, where a vaulted brick cookhouse, sunken firepit terrace and light-filled open-plan living all open onto 1.1 south-facing acres of orchard, moments from Knowle High Street.

Set behind electric gates on a generous, south-facing plot of around 1.1 acres, The Orchard is a home designed around gathering people together, inside and out. Originally built in 2007 and since transformed by the current owners through a ground and upper-floor extension and a thorough renovation, it now offers total accommodation of 4,709 sq ft.

New windows, updated electrics, ground and first-floor underfloor heating and a heating system installed in 2022 mean the substance matches the style, while the main house carries a ‘B’ rating for energy efficiency, a rarity in a home of this character.

The heart of the house is an expansive open-plan kitchen and family room, laid with warm wood floors and opening through bifold doors onto the terrace and garden so that summer entertaining flows seamlessly from inside to out. An adjoining dining area sits beneath rooflights, and just off the kitchen, a discreet butler’s pantry and prep kitchen keeps the main space uncluttered, fitted with a Miele oven and with space for an American-style fridge freezer and dishwasher.

A separate laundry room, served by a laundry chute from the first floor, adds a genuinely practical note for family life. The living room, again with wooden floors, is connected by sliding doors to a study that can equally serve as a separate dining room, giving the ground floor a flexibility that suits both quiet evenings and larger occasions.

A striking oak-and-glass staircase rises through the house, a newly fitted and tiled cloakroom serves the ground floor, and a wired speaker system, currently run through Sonos, plays throughout.

Upstairs, the principal suite is a true highlight: an impressive gabled ceiling draws the eye upward, while windows frame open views over the rear grounds. A large walk-in wardrobe, plus a beautifully appointed ensuite with double vanity sinks and a generous walk-in shower.

Further bedrooms on this floor are served by a well-finished family bathroom (access from 2 bedrooms), and the top floor offers particularly versatile accommodation, with a bedroom, bathroom and living room that together make an ideal guest suite, teenage retreat or home-working floor.

Outside is where The Orchard truly comes into its own. A detached cookhouse and BBQ kitchen, finished under a vaulted timber ceiling with exposed brick, is fitted with a commercial extractor, bifold opening windows and its own WC, making it fully self-contained from the main house for entertaining yet within easy reach of the butler’s pantry. A sunken firepit sits at the centre of the rear terrace for cooler evenings, and beyond it the grounds unfold into a mature orchard of pear, plum, apple and cherry trees that gives the house its name.

An in-and-out gated driveway sweeps to detached triple garaging and a store, all secured behind electric gates, with external CCTV throughout. A thoughtful final touch for four-legged family members: a hot and cold water dog shower in the garage, ready for muddy paws after a morning across the orchard.

Completing the picture is a separate detached annexe cottage (166A Kenilworth Road), with its own entrance from the front driveway, offering a bedroom, shower room and kitchenette; ideal for extended family, guests or a home office with genuine independence. Buyers should make enquiries on Subsidiary Dwelling Exception relating to Stamp Duty.

Planning permission granted in June 2023 offers a new owner scope to enhance the property further should they wish.

Versatile, meticulously finished and made for entertaining on any scale, The Orchard is an exceptional opportunity for discerning buyers seeking a distinctive family home within walking distance of one of Warwickshire’s most sought-after villages.

Location - Knowle is one of the most desirable villages on the Warwickshire fringe of Solihull, prized for its conservation-area High Street, its strong sense of community and its enviable position between open countryside and easy connections to Birmingham and London. The historic High Street mixes period timber-framed buildings with an appealing run of independent shops, delis and everyday essentials, alongside well-regarded pubs and eateries such as the landmark Greswolde Arms, The Red Lion, The Vaults and the canalside King’s Arms, and the medieval Grade I listed Church of St John the Baptist anchors the village at its heart.

For families, the area is a genuine draw: Knowle CofE Primary Academy sits within a short walk, while the highly regarded Arden Academy provides secondary education close by, and a strong choice of independent schools including Solihull School and Warwick’s foundation schools lies within an easy drive. Weekends are well served by walks and rides through the surrounding countryside and along the nearby Grand Union Canal, with the National Trust’s Baddesley Clinton and Packwood House both a short drive away for afternoons out.

Connections are excellent. Dorridge station, on the Chiltern main line, offers direct services into Birmingham (Moor Street and Snow Hill approximately 15 to 20 minutes) and to London Marylebone (approximately 1 hour 45 minutes), while the M42 (Junction 5) is within a few minutes’ drive, linking to the M40 for London, the M6 for the North and Birmingham Airport and the NEC in around 15 minutes.

What’s nearby (approximate distances)

•Dorridge Station: 1.8 miles
•Knowle CofE Primary Academy (primary): 0.4 mile
•Arden Academy (secondary): 0.7 mile
•Knowle High Street shops: approx. 0.5 mile (nearest larger centre, Touchwood in Solihull, approx. 3.5 miles)
•Knowle Surgery (GP): 0.7 mile
•608 Vets, Bentley Heath: 1.8 miles

General Information - Tenure: Freehold

Services: Mains services connected | Generator if required

Heating: Ground and first-floor underfloor heating; heating system installed 2022

Security: Electric gated in-and-out driveway with electric double gates to the rear, leading to secure garaging | External CCTV
Plot: Approx. 1.1 acres, south-facing

Built: 2007, extended and renovated under current ownership since 2023

Local Authority: Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council | Council Tax Band G (main house); Band A (annexe, buyer to make enquiries regarding beneficial exemptions)

EPC: Main house Rating B; Annexe Rating C

Postcode: B93 0JJ

Planning: Planning permission was granted for the property in June 2023 for renovation works, allowing a new owner to further enhance and develop the property if desired (Solihull Council Ref: PL/2023/00583/MINFHO). If executed, the permission would allow a larger boot room facility and further garaging, plus an additional first-floor room/study above the enlarged front porch area. Plans are available by request through the Agent.

We are also aware of a planning application within one mile of the property for the proposed development of Golden End Farm.

Agents Note - We have not tested any of the electrical, central heating or sanitaryware appliances. Purchasers should make their own investigations as to the workings of the relevant items. Floor plans are for identification purposes only and not to scale. All room measurements and mileages quoted in these sales details are approximate. Subjective comments in these details imply the opinion of the selling agent at the time these details were prepared. Naturally, the opinions of purchasers may differ. These sales details are produced in good faith to offer a guide only and do not constitute any part of a contract or offer. We would advise that fixtures and fittings included within the sale are confirmed by the purchaser at the point of offer. Images used within these details are under copyright to EB&P and under no circumstances are to be reproduced by a third party without prior permission.

Anti Money Laundering (Aml) - We have a duty to know who our client is, including checking your identity and residence, original, or certified original, documents; and we carry out AML (Anti-money laundering) checks in a number of ways. We will ask you to provide documents to confirm your ID and proof of residence. We will also carry out electronic AML searches for every person who is our buyer and client. In some cases, we are also obliged to carry out further checks. We will let you know if we need to carry out further checks or require further information. We expect to receive your documents to satisfy the AML checks within 7 working days from the request. EB&P will charge £24 Incl. VAT per person for us to carry out the above checks.