Richard Parker, 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, 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.
