A regeneration plan for Sutton Coldfield town centre in the West Midlands has been adopted by Birmingham City Council, laying out a new set of standards for planning applications for the area.
The scheme, developed by joint venture Tibbalds CampbellReith working with SQW, The Retail Group and Urban Movement, includes plans to revamp the once bustling retail area and improve public realm.
It will also see a new £20m transport hub built by the railway station, and plans to reallocate road space to pedestrians and cyclists, such as reconfiguring the “concrete collar” of the ring road.
Councillors hope it will also broaden the type of shops, bars, restaurants and community and heritage facilities in the town centre, while making it easier to live in the area.
Katja Stille, director at Tibbalds Planning and Urban Design, said: “Masterplans that have progressed during the last year strongly reflect the growing recognition that our town centres have an even more crucial role to play as we emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic.
“They are aimed at maximising the potential that both town centres have in enhancing the economic vitality of each area, while creating a high-quality sense of place for people and celebrating local distinctiveness and character.
“Health and wellbeing elements are also strongly integrated, ensuring that communities will become not just places to live and work, but places that enrich livelihoods and deliver a sense of purpose.”
Tibbalds Planning and Urban Design is a consultancy founded in 2003, focusing on the crossover between planning and urban design.
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