Jonathan Bretherton has been appointed managing director of Solihull’s Urban Growth Company.
The UGC is the special purpose delivery vehicle established by Solihull council in 2016 to co-ordinate interest surrounding the new HS2 station in Solihull.
Bretherton will head up infrastructure investment and development planning at the 3,200-acre UK Central Hub which is already home to Birmingham Airport, the NEC, Jaguar Land Rover, Birmingham Business Park and the Arden Cross site, and which will soon host the HS2 Interchange Station.
He replaces acting managing director Philip Farrell who will continue in his previous role of development director.
Bretherton was previously joint chief executive at the South Tees Development Corporation and the South Tees Site Company and was chief executive of Hereford Futures.
Major year
UGC chairman Nick Brown said: “2019 is a major year for the UGC and our plans for The Hub. We’ll be continuing our work with HS2 to ensure the Interchange Station is at the heart of a whole new, sustainable, urban quarter, and continue the redevelopment planning of Birmingham International Station.
“Alongside that, we’ll be addressing the utilities shortfall in the area and co-ordinating local transport connectivity, among other projects.
“Jonathan will be instrumental in delivering these ambitious plans.”
Andy Street, mayor of the West Midlands, said: “The UGC’s plans to create new jobs, homes, commercial space and unrivalled connectivity at The Hub will benefit people across the whole of the West Midlands and beyond.
“The UGC has already made significant progress and I’m excited about working with Jonathan to continue that work.”
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