Solihull’s Holbeche Place redevelopment given WMCA backing
The West Midlands Combined Authority will front up £20m in remediation funding for Muse’s landmark town centre redevelopment, planned to support the first two phases of the 1,600 home scheme.
Plans lodged by Muse and Solihull Council to transform the town’s 1960’s-era Mell Square shopping precinct into a rebooted mixed-use project were unanimously approved by the council’s planning committee in February, with demolition works at a multi-storey car park and former petrol station now under way.
The backing from WMCA will support ongoing demolition enabling works for the first two phases, which will see the construction of 346 build-to-rent homes, followed by 228 affordable homes – and lay the foundation for the wider masterplan, according to Lisa Turley, development director at Muse.
“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,” she said.
“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.”
The start of work on site at Holbeche Place represented a landmark for the redevelopment of Solihull’s town centre, after the site was bought up by Solihull Council from former owner IM Properties in 2021.
Muse were appointed as developers for the project in 2023, and a hybrid planning application was submitted to the council in March last year.
The new mixed-use neighbourhood will now be built in phases over the next ten years.
Announcing the investment at the UKREiiF real estate show in Leeds this week, mayor Richard Parker said the funding was part of combined authority efforts to reverse the decline of town centres in the region.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
Paul Johnson, chief executive at Solihull Council, added: “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.”
