£1m town centre improvement scheme completes
Solihull’s Town Centre Approach, which improves access to the middle of Solihull for pedestrians and cyclists, has been completed.
The opening was attended by Cllr Ted Richards, Solihull Council’s cabinet member for transport and highways, and West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) Mayor Andy Street.
The scheme, which was funded by the Council and WMCA, is part of wider access improvements to the approach to the town centre, the first phase of which is now complete.
The redesign of the approach includes a change to the road layout and nearly half a mile of new walkways and cycle ways. The pavement has been widened and the crossing redesigned to make it safer and quicker for residents, commuters, shoppers and visitors to get into the heart of the town.
Cllr Richards OBE, cabinet member for transport and highways said “This project provides people arriving in Solihull with an excellent welcome, whether they are here for work or pleasure they can be sure that they will get to the centre of town safely and quickly.”
Cllr Richards also emphasised that the Town Centre Approach is only part of widespread improvements.
“The Town Centre Masterplan provides a blueprint for 20 years of investment in Solihull, which will bring large new leisure, business, and residential developments. We are looking forward to working with partners to consider options for the wider redevelopment of the station and transport interchange to compliment this scheme.”
Street added: “I’m pleased WMCA has been able to support this scheme, this is a much better way for commuters and shoppers to arrive in Solihull. It is a statement of intent for UK Central, the improvements that are being made here and elsewhere benefit the whole West Midlands region.”
