Capitalising on continued investor confidence and demand in Solihull – and making sure that Solihull has its plans ready to meet the economic challenges that will follow the current Covid-19 crisis – the Council is taking the lead in developing another exciting new town centre scheme, as part of its co-ordinated masterplan to unlock future growth potential.
Plans have been announced today for the potential redevelopment of the current Council House and Civic buildings on the corner of Homer Road and Church Hill Road.
Dubbed ‘Eastgate’ the 5.66 acre strategic site in the town centre adjacent to the High Street, is being promoted by the Council as part of a Business & Commercial Quarter within the town. The scale of the site and its strategic location connecting to the retail core of the town makes Eastgate a compelling investment opportunity for the area.
The Council’s bold new vision for the site has been set out in their ‘Prior Information Notice’ (PIN) published today, which outlines the Council’s intention to seek a development and investment partner to deliver this exciting development opportunity. The vision of this site includes delivering new homes, business spaces, public squares and civic accommodation while creating the potential for an enhanced cultural and arts offer. Any emerging designs will also aim for the highest environmental standards possible, in line with the ambitions laid out in in both the Council’s Climate Change Prospectus and recent Climate Change Declaration.
Eastgate will form another vital part of the Council’s new town centre Masterplan which provides a clear blueprint for future investment and development in the town centre over the next twenty years. Building on its strong track record for attracting international occupiers and investment, Solihull Council is confident that the new scheme will help drive major economic benefits and build-upon Solihull’s established success as a commercial centre and a premier destination that is highly sought after as a place to live, work and visit.
At the opposite end of Homer Road plans are already progressing for the delivery of Westgate, a bold landmark office scheme with capacity to deliver over 10,000 square metres. of Grade A office accommodation, as well as flexible co-working and collaboration space.
There are significant challenges facing all sectors of the economy at this time, however, bold developments such as these will lay the foundations for the continued prosperity of the town centre, help attract future inward investment and build on Solihull’s position as a key regional wealth creator.
Both projects form part of the Council’s wider UK Central Solihull programme, delivering key infrastructure projects to support sustainable and inclusive growth across the borough.
Cllr Ian Courts, Leader of Solihull Council and Cabinet Member for the Economy said:
“Solihull Town Centre benefits from a proven track record of attracting international occupiers and investment, supporting a strong commercial and residential market. The Council is determined to support our retail and commercial centres by being an active partner in their future. This is more important than ever in the current climate as all sectors plan their reset and recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We recently launched our economic recovery plan for Solihull, which identifies short, medium and long term interventions to mitigate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Solihull economy. We know that key factors such as its economic dynamism, well-balanced sector profile, and highly-qualified workforce mean that Solihull Town Centre is well placed to lead in this recovery. That is why we are prioritising bold and exciting town centre developments such as Eastgate, which are about looking ahead and planting the seeds for our future prosperity.
“This important scheme will show how the Council is taking a proactive approach to future development and will reflect its ethos around demanding the highest standards of design while placing environmental concerns, sustainability and the climate challenge at the heart of everything we do.
“The Council is seeking interest from a development partner for Eastgate to work with us to deliver our shared vision and ensure that we create a vibrant new quarter for our town.”
