The go-ahead for the redevelopment of Solihull’s town centre is set for approval at its planning committee meeting on Friday 6 February.
It is important to recognise at the outset this has only been achieved through the decision we made to purchase Mell Square a few years ago. Different owners in the past 15 years or so have come up with some proposals they did not follow up or commit to. By owning the site outright gave the council an opportunity to lead the development and shape it to our own needs, not those of private investors.
The full report and plans can be viewed via this link:
I have taken a few comments from the report from officers, which I fully support.
‘The proposal would lead to regeneration and diversification of the town centre breathing life into it by introducing a variety of new and enhanced uses, including new homes, modern retail and commercial spaces/units along with potential future uses such as hotel and office space, and other amenities. This will create new opportunities for people to live, work, and enjoy the area, transforming the town centre into a vibrant daytime and nighttime destination.’
The report highlights the economic benefits provide substantial benefit. The phased construction of the proposal will generate temporary employment and productivity benefits, whilst the new homes and uplift in commercial uses will support increased levels of employment, economic output and expenditure in the town centre over the long-term.
The full planning application relates to phase 1 of the development for site clearance and demolition of all existing buildings and the construction of residential floorspace and associated amenity space (Use Class C3), lower and ground floor commercial floorspaces (Use Class E), public realm works, hard and soft landscaping, access, parking, drainage, and all other associated works.
For the Mell Square area the masterplan, in summary, includes the following requirements:
• A vision of a vibrant mixed-use destination at the heart of the town centre attracting visitors ‘morning noon and night’. High quality shops, restaurants and independent businesses in a high quality, multi-functional public realm. ‘Exceptional’ residential offer will breathe new life into the area, supporting employment opportunities and a thriving leisure arts and culture offer and a vibrant evening economy.
• Enhancement of retail offer through renewal, by introducing new complementary uses such as residential and more varied leisure offer and through reconfiguration of underused sites.
• Former House of Fraser & Mell Square Car Park is seen as having long-term potential to accommodate large-scale redevelopment for high-density urban living with an attractive Warwick Rd frontage and enhanced public realm that ties with future Mell Square proposals to improve pedestrian connectivity.
• Opportunities to bring forward development in stages to align with sites becoming available. It will be important to ensure an overall development of common character and that links together.
• Create a legible and attractive environment for visitors through scale and massing of buildings and detailing of landscaping, street furniture and signage.
• Improved Warwick Rd frontage, enhancing the appearance of the edge of the town and improving permeability for pedestrians and cyclists.
• Reduced traffic flow to prioritise pedestrians.
• Redesign of the existing retail, leisure, food and beverage offer.
• Increased residential offer within the site ‘(circa 500 new homes)’.
• Redesign public spaces to establish Mell Square as flexible space that is better used by visitors, whilst being capable of hosting a variety of public events that will add to the vibrancy of the site.
Ken Hawkins 