Plans for a 20-year vision for growth and regeneration of Solihull town centre are to go before Solihull cabinet members tomorrow.
Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council will set out its draft town centre masterplan at the planning meeting in a bid to seek further investment and funding for the town centre – one of the major economic zones within the UK Central initiative.
The masterplan will offer a new vision to 2036 for the aging town centre and include the possible long-term relocation of the town’s outdated train station to provide an opportunity for development on the current station’s site. Solihull train station passenger growth is predicted to increase by 50% over the next 10 years and a larger, better-connected railway station is being considered.
The current station is physically disconnected from the town centre, but the masterplan provides a new landmark office development and improved public realm on the site. The Lode Lane/Blossomfield Road roundabout could, according to the masterplan, also be transformed into a key visual gateway; representing an important arrival point into Solihull Town Centre for those arriving by public transport and from the west.
Other proposals include expanding town centre’s residential, office and retail offer and enhancing its public realm and transport system. This could include opportunities for large-scale, mixed-use development comprising apartment-style town centre blocks and a new evening leisure offer comprising restaurants, bars and cafes.
The council’s report to the cabinet states that Local Plan growth could add 7,000 more jobs to the area by 2040. The Local Plan also identifies potential for 950 new homes, which would at least double the number of people living in the town centre area. Retail and office capacity would also increase to 646,000 sq ft and 377,000 sq ft respectively, according to the masterplan.
The public consultation exercise will run for four weeks, starting on 15 August.
The draft masterplan was developed by AECOM, supported by WPS.
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