, Mayor of the West
Midlands, is to invest £20m into a major redevelopment of
Solihull's Holbeche Place – formerly known as Mell Square - part
of his on-going drive to secure vibrant futures for the region's
town and city centres.
The financial backing will be used to help
fund Holbeche Place which will bring new shops,
restaurants and more than 1,600 new homes into the centre of
Solihull.
The new mixed-use neighbourhood will be built in phases over the
next ten years and is a once in a generation opportunity to
reimagine the town centre, injecting fresh life and
vibrancy.
Announcing the investment at the UKREiiF real estate
show in Leeds today (Wednesday 20 May),
the Mayor said: “High streets were never just
places to buy things. They were where communities met, where
local businesses grew and where people felt pride in the place
they lived.
“Too many town centres have been hollowed out over recent years
and people have felt that decline. I want us to reverse
that. That means bringing life and vitality back into the heart
of our towns and cities.
“Holbeche Place is exactly the kind of redevelopment our
region needs - high quality homes, new businesses,
safer streets and more people living in and using the
town centre every day.
“This is about building back our communities. A town centre
people can feel proud of. A place where working people, young
families and older residents can all see a future for
themselves.”
Inspired by Solihull's heritage the neighbourhood combines new
homes, independent retail, food and drink, cultural activity, and
high-quality public spaces.
It will be delivered by nationwide placemaker Muse in partnership
with Solihull Council.
Paul Johnson, chief executive at Solihull Council, said:
“Holbeche Place is a pivotal investment opportunity that will
strengthen Solihull's position as one of the UK's most resilient
and high‑performing town centres. We welcome this latest
investment and the continued support of the West Midlands
Combined Authority.
“Our partnership with Muse is unlocking a major development
programme that brings new homes, high‑quality commercial space
and a significantly enhanced public realm into the heart of the
borough. This is a strategic, long‑term commitment to driving
economic growth, attracting new occupiers and ensuring Solihull
town centre continues to offer a compelling proposition for
residents, businesses and investors.”
The Mayor's investment will be used to support the
delivery of the first two phases of Holbeche Place
which will see the construction of 346 build-to-rent
homes, followed by 228 affordable homes, setting
the foundations for the delivery of the
wider masterplan.
The homes will help attract young professionals, families,
and downsizers to the town centre, creating a vibrant
and dynamic new community. It will also form a new gateway
into the town centre from Warwick Road – offering
a place that feels welcoming, active and
flexible throughout the day and into the evening.
Lisa Turley, development director at Muse, said: “Funding from
the Mayor and the WMCA is already helping to kick-start the
delivery of Holbeche Place, which will pick up pace in the coming
months.
“Public sector backing – alongside our partnership with Solihull
Council – continues to be a crucial tool to unlock long-term and
complex development where it's needed, and where it can add real
value.
“Holbeche Place will be critical to Solihull town centre's
long-term success – driving growth, investing in retail,
delivering new homes and curating quality public spaces.”
The Mayor's investment into Holbeche Place is
the latest to be announced under his election pledge
to revitalise the region's high streets. Working
in partnership with local councils and developers, investment is
being targeted at creating places where people feel safe
and can be proud to live.
Recent multi-million-pound town and city centre investments
include Smithgate in Wolverhampton, Station Quarter in
Telford, the Latimer residential tower scheme in Digbeth and new
transport infrastructure for Dudley town centre.
The Mayor has also launched the Street Markets
Catapult to help revitalise the region's street
markets with a £300,000 support package to expand the variety of
stalls on offer and draw in more shoppers.
Action to help town and city centre high streets recapture their
centuries old role as the beating heart of the local community
has been set out in the Mayor's Growth Plan, a
blueprint for reigniting the regional economy and raising living
standards.
