New vibrancy, new homes, new offering in bold new vision - The Solihull Observer

New vibrancy, new homes, new offering in bold new vision

Solihull Editorial 19th Jan, 2021   0

SOLIHULL Council has published a new prospectus outlining its ambitious Town Centre Masterplan for future growth potential of Solihull.

A refreshed masterplan was adopted in November, providing a framework for continued investment and development in the town centre over the next 15 years.

Delivery of new masterplan in full could see up to 1,178 new homes being built in the centre and potentially 4,000 new jobs created.

The masterplan is a blueprint for future developments to ensure the growth of the town centre is planned, coordinated and promoted.




It also ensures that future developments respond to, and complement the authority’s priorities, particularly around economic growth, health and wellbeing, sustainability, climate change.

It is believed that in the future town centres will need to diversify to be successful and the masterplan identifies various opportunities to modernise and widen the current leisure and ‘experience’ offer alongside more housing and improved transport links.


Economic assessments show the proposals have the potential to generate £163million in ‘Gross Value Added’ in the construction phase and produce £325m gross GVA per annum in the operational phase.

The new Prospectus focuses on six key areas of change; the Western Gateway, Southern Gateway, Business and Commercial Quarter, Northern Approach, Heart of Solihull (retail core) and St Alphege Quarter.

Key features include:

Redevelopment of Solihull Station to create a modern ‘integrated transport hub’ that includes upgrades to the public realm and green space surrounding the station and creates a high quality gateway into the town centre.

Brand-new civic and community hub on the Council owned Eastgate site incorporating high quality accessible public spaces, new retail and leisure uses connecting well with the existing town centre.

This development will also include a new residential neighbourhood.

Potential new car parking on Monkspath Hall Road to support the wider use of this site that could accommodate a range of development uses including housing, commercial, leisure or education.

Grade A town centre office development at Westgate to enhance the town’s employment offer and provide an attractive new gateway to the commercial and business quarter.

Guidance on the possible future redevelopment of Mell Square to create a diverse and high quality mixed use space offering residential, leisure and commercial use set amongst high quality public realm to create an attractive and modern destination.

Traffic management around Blossomfield Road roundabout, including improvements to the pedestrian and cycle connectivity between the town centre and the station.

A new north-south pedestrian and cycle link between the southern gateway of the town including the Monkspath Hall Road site, and the Business and Commercial Quarter and the core of the town centre.

Councillor Ian Courts, Leader of Solihull Council and Cabinet Member for the Economy said: “After a frankly torrid 2020, it’s very exciting to see a confident, visionary Town Centre Masterplan take shape.

“Complementing the full Town Centre Masterplan, this Prospectus neatly illustrates the clear vision that we have for Solihull town centre.

“By taking a wider view of upcoming developments and investment opportunities and playing an active part with partners in creating new opportunities, the Council is outing in place a plan for the future of our town centre.

“A future that ensures we deliver managed economic growth as well as aligning this growth to other key strategic objectives, such as our climate change goals of Net Zero carbon emissions by 2041.”

To view the Prospectus and Masterplan in full, visit https://www.solihull.gov.uk/About-the-Council/SolihullTownCentreMasterplan

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