‘Once in a generation’ Mell Square plans set for go-ahead

Plans to build over 1,500 homes as part of a major redevelopment of Solihull look set to move forward, after council planning officers recommended the scheme for approval.

A final decision on a proposed redevelopment of the town’s Mell Square shopping centre will be delivered at Solihull Council’s planning committee on Friday, 6 February.

The hybrid scheme, put forward by Salford-based developer Muse, includes outline plans for more than 600,000 sq ft of non-residential space, intended shops, cafés, bars, restaurants, as well as up to 300 hotel rooms.

A full application for phase one of the development, which would include the first 346 homes and two commercial units, is included in the application set to be decided this week.

Those first phase proposals would see an existing multi-storey car park demolished along with a petrol filling station to make way for four residential apartment buildings with ground floor commercial uses, amenity space and public realm areas.

Phases two to nine would see a further 1,488 apartments built, 571 earmarked for private sale, with the remainder marketed as build-to-rent schemes.

Solihull’s Mell Square masterplan could be delivered in up to nine phases. Credit: Muse

A report from Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council’s planning officers highlighted concerns over the scale of the development, which officers said would would introduce a “significantly more modern and urbanised development” into the town centre, as well as causing less-than-substantial harm to various listed buildings on High Street, and The Square.

However, they said the significant public benefits of the scheme outweighed those concerns in their final conclusions, in what officers described as a “finely balanced” recommendation for approval.

“The size, scale and nature of the proposed development represents one of the most significant development proposals within the borough for decades,” said the report.

“The proposal would lead to regeneration and diversification of the town centre breathing life into it by introducing a variety of new and enhanced uses, including new homes, modern retail and commercial spaces/units along with potential future uses such as hotel and office space, and other amenities.

“This will create new opportunities for people to live, work, and enjoy the area, transforming the town centre into a vibrant daytime and nighttime destination. This matter carries significant weight.”

Documents and plans relating to the application can be found on Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council’s planning portal using reference: PL/2025/00547/MAJFDW