Arden Cross HS2 land ‘to be released by 2030’
Development surrounding the planned HS2 Interchange station in Solihull could begin sooner than expected, after the government confirmed land would be released early to maximise regeneration benefits of the high-speed railway.
The first phase of the project at Arden Cross, set to become the Arden Cross HealthTech Campus, could now begin from 2030.
The date for the early release of the land was confirmed in a letter from the Department for Transport to Arden Cross Ltd, the company formed by the principle land owners at the Arden Cross site, Place Midlands understands.
Last month, transport secretary Heidi Alexander confirmed that HS2 was “exploring opportunities for early release of land” at Old Oak Common, Interchange, Curzon Street and Washwood Heath, enabling some land holdings to be brought into use while the railway is being built – a plan they said would deliver regeneration benefits as early as possible.
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Arden Cross Ltd, Muse, and the University of Warwick will now accelerate the next phase of the campus proposals, which will support life sciences clusters across the Midlands, including the development of a joint masterplan and engagement with potential partners and occupiers.
The Arden Cross HealthTech Campus will bring together a bespoke public-private-academic partnership with cutting-edge research, investors, and the NHS. It will support start-ups and scale-ups to develop new digital and AI solutions, positioning the West Midlands as a world leader in HealthTech innovation.
Maggie Grogan, managing director for the Midlands at Muse, said the announcement followed a “highly collaborative partnership approach” to maximise the regeneration potential of Arden Cross.
“Confirmation of the timescales for land release gives us greater clarity and allows us to move forward with confidence,” she said.
“We have worked constructively, alongside HS2, to identify solutions which enable delivery and maximise the economic growth potential of the regeneration opportunity.
“Arden Cross has the connectivity, scale, and ambition to become one of the UK’s most important regeneration and innovation destinations. By progressing the masterplan now, we can ensure the first phases are ready to come forward from 2030.”
The original masterplan for Arden Cross was published in 2020.
Once complete, developments at the 345-acre Arden Cross site could deliver tens of thousands of jobs, and up to 3,000 new homes, along with a nationally significant HealthTech ecosystem, planned to drive significant economic growth across the Midlands and the UK.
Martin Yardley, Project Director at Arden Cross Ltd, said the confirmation of land release dates was an “important step” in the delivery programme for Arden Cross.
“We now have a clear pathway to progress detailed plans with our partners and ensure this nationally significant opportunity is ready to move as quickly as possible once land becomes available,” he said.
Professor Stuart Croft, Vice-Chancellor and President, University of Warwick, added: “The Arden Cross HealthTech Campus is an outstanding opportunity for the West Midlands to lead the way in Life Sciences and Medical Technology, which will bring significant growth to the NHS and healthcare sector across the region and the country.”
“University of Warwick welcomes the latest announcement on the release of land that enables this HS2 development to move forward and remains committed to supporting the Arden Cross HealthTech Campus.
“The project will bring real, lasting economic growth, and become an engine to drive the HealthTech sector forwards by promoting partnership-working across higher education, healthcare, technology and local government.”
