1,600 new homes set to transform Solihull town centre

More than 1,600 new homes are set to be built in the heart of Solihull as part of a huge redevelopment of the former Mell Square site.

The ambitious plans will transform a large part of Solihull town centre, replacing the existing Mell Square area with a new neighbourhood featuring homes, shops, restaurants, public spaces and leisure facilities.

The development, now known as Holbeche Place, was approved by Solihull Council in February and is being delivered by developer Muse in partnership with the council.

The scale of the project means it could dramatically change the way people live, shop and spend time in the town centre.

More than 1,600 homes

The scheme will provide more than 1,600 homes, delivered in phases over the next decade.

The first phases are expected to include 346 build-to-rent homes, followed by 228 affordable homes.

The wider development will include a mixture of build-to-rent, affordable and open-market homes, with the aim of bringing more residents into the town centre.

The plans are not just about housing.

New shops, restaurants, food and drink venues and public spaces are also planned as part of the redevelopment.

Two new public spaces, Drury Gardens and Poplar Yard, are among the proposals.

Muse says the aim is to create a new neighbourhood where people can live, shop, eat and spend time without having to leave the town centre.

Council says homes could help protect Green Belt

The sheer number of homes has prompted debate about whether Solihull should be putting so much housing in its town centre.

Solihull Council leader Karen Grinsell has defended the decision, arguing that putting more homes in existing urban areas could reduce the need to build on green spaces elsewhere.

Speaking on BBC Radio WM's Hot Seat, she said:

"If we don't put housing in town centres, where they are easily accessible, we are going to have to end up building housing on our green spaces."

She added:

"We don't want to do that, so to be able to put more housing in the town centre is part of the solution."

The comments came after concerns were raised that the development could change the character of Solihull town centre and potentially create a "ghost town".

Some residents have also criticised aspects of the proposed design and raised concerns about parking.

What will happen to Mell Square?

The existing Mell Square area will be substantially redeveloped.

Rather than simply replacing the shopping area with another retail centre, Holbeche Place will create a mixed-use neighbourhood with homes above and alongside commercial space.

Grinsell said the changing nature of retail meant there was less need for large shops, with smaller retail units able to occupy ground floors while homes are provided above.

She also defended the reduction in parking spaces, saying town-centre residents would have access to buses, the railway station and active travel routes.

She said the development would reduce parking by 546 spaces, although she argued that people living centrally would not need the same level of car parking as those living elsewhere.

When will the new homes be built?

The project is expected to be delivered in phases over around 10 years, meaning Solihull residents will not suddenly see 1,600 homes appear at once.

The first stage will focus on the initial residential and public realm elements, with further phases following as the wider neighbourhood takes shape.

Muse said after planning permission was granted that early demolition works were expected to begin imminently.

The developer has described the project as a chance to create a new central neighbourhood for Solihull, with homes intended to attract young professionals, families and downsizers.

A major change for Solihull

The scale of Holbeche Place means the redevelopment is likely to remain one of the biggest changes to Solihull town centre for decades.

More than 1,600 homes would bring thousands of additional residents into the centre, while the new restaurants, shops and public spaces are intended to make the area busier throughout the day and evening.

Muse says the project will also create 170 net new jobs during construction, with further employment expected once the development is complete.

The question now is how quickly the plans will take shape.

With construction expected to take place over several phases, the former Mell Square area could look very different by the end of the decade.

For Solihull, the redevelopment represents a major shift towards town-centre living — and more than 1,600 new homes could ultimately make it one of the biggest changes the town has seen in generations.