‘Bland’ and hundreds of parking spaces lost: critics hit out at Solihull’s Mell Square redevelopment

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‘Bland’ and hundreds of parking spaces lost: critics hit out at Solihull’s Mell Square redevelopment   A plan for up to one thousand six hundred homes in Solihull town centre has sparked fears it could lose what makes it work. The former Mell Square is being rebuilt as Holbeche Place, with major changes to shops, public spaces and parking. Residents have raised concerns, but the council leader says building homes here could protect something else Solihull values.   Watch the video for the full story.  #Solihull #MellSquare #HolbechePlace #WestMidlands #Housing #Regeneration #LocalNews

Transcript

00:00Solihull Town Centre is beginning its biggest transformation in decades.

00:05The former Mouth Square is being redeveloped as Holbeck Place, a new neighbourhood planned

00:11to contain up to 6,600 homes alongside shops, restaurants, leisure venues and public spaces.

00:20Council leader Karen Grinsall has defended the scheme after some residents warned the

00:26development could leave Solihull feeling like a ghost town.

00:29Others criticise what they described as bland designs and question plans to remove hundreds

00:35of parking spaces from the town centre.

00:38Grinsall argues that placing housing beside shops, buses and the railway offers an alternative

00:44to building on green spaces.

00:46The council says changing shopping habits mean retailers increasingly want smaller units with

00:52apartments above them and activity through the day and evening.

00:56Planning permission was granted in February with councillors unanimously supporting the

01:01wider master plan.

01:03Work will continue in phases over 10 years.

01:06The opening stages include 340 rented homes.

01:11The development will reduce parking by 546 spaces.

01:15Though Grinsall says strong public transport means town centre living requires fewer cars.

01:22For Solihull the argument is whether new homes can revive Mouth Square without weakening what

01:28already works.

01:29corridor, will Dorian.

01:29door

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