Masterplan for Solihull Town Centre presented at UKREiiF

Published by

Nicky Godding

CGI of Solihull Town Centre

Developer Muse presented an emerging masterplan for Solihull Town Centre by Maggie Grogan, Muse's Managing Director for the Midlands alongside the Leader of Solihull Council, Cllr Ian Courts.

The pair were part of a panel of industry experts discussing the challenges and opportunities of delivering regeneration within an already thriving town centre.

Mell Square, in the heart of Solihull Town Centre, has been identified by the Council as a key opportunity area within it’s Town Centre Masterplan.

The Masterplan seeks to re-invigorate the area to unlock its full potential, whilst creating smaller and bespoke new public spaces, leisure facilities, and homes – as part of a diverse and mixed-use community.

The regeneration of Mell Square will enhance Solihull’s existing retail offer and visitor experience, diversifying the nighttime economy, and delivering new public and leisure spaces.

Designed by architects Howells, the Masterplan would also deliver a mix of homes and tenures to create an inclusive town centre community. The new shops, experiences, and facilities will be curated to respond to the emerging community, as well as serving the town centre more widely.

Maggie Grogan, Managing Director for Muse – Midlands, said: We have worked closely and in partnership with Solihull Council to develop an exciting, transformational masterplan proposal for Mell Square to support the evolution of the town centre.”

“As an already successful and vibrant place, our challenge is to enhance what works well and re-invigorating the area is critical to our approach, adapting to the changing needs of consumers and the community.”

“By delivering more town centre living, smaller and bespoke new public spaces, more places to spend leisure time, an evening and nighttime economy, and more jobs and training opportunities we can help bring an exciting new feel to Solihull.”

Cllr Ian Courts, Leader of Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, said: "Solihull enjoys a well-established reputation as a vibrant, attractive and welcoming destination for high quality shopping, business and leisure”

“With a proven track record of attracting high quality occupiers and investment, we have one of the best-performing town centres in the country. However, as retail habits and the way we use our local centres continue to change, we need to ensure what we are offering also evolves. It’s important that we plan and invest now so that Solihull town centre remains an exciting, thriving and accessible place for people to enjoy.”

“As well as creating new space for high quality retailers, restaurateurs, independent businesses and providing a range of new housing right in the heart of the town centre, this scheme will also bring benefits for the wider borough in terms of investment, new jobs and training opportunities. Over time, new communities making their homes in our town centre will bring a boost to local businesses and feed our growing evening economy.”

“I’m really excited with what Muse and Howells have produced so far and am looking forward to consulting on our emerging masterplan soon.”

Nicky Godding

Nicky Godding is editor of The Business Magazine. Before her journalism career, she worked mainly in public relations moving into writing when she was invited to launch Retail Watch, a publication covering retail and real estate across Europe. After some years of constant travelling, she tucked away her passport and concentrated on business writing, co-founding a successful regional business magazine. She has interviewed some of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs who have built multi-million-pound businesses and reported on many science and technology firsts. She reports on the region’s thriving business economy from start-ups, family businesses and multi-million-pound corporations, to the professionals that support their growth and the institutions that educate the next generation of business leaders.