Powergen offices set to make way for £75m retirement complex
A £75m residential scheme is set to go ahead in Solihull after the borough council agreed plans for the demolition of one of the area’s best-known buildings.
The retirement complex, set to create scores of new jobs, will be built on the former Powergen site in Shirley, the John Madin-designed block which has been vacant for more than 20 years.
The scheme is being led by Shirley Advance, the developer responsible for the recent Parkgate development in Shirley town centre. Shirley Advance is a joint venture between Helical Retail and Coltham Developments.
Now the green light has been given, the site will be transformed with a 261-apartment ExtraCare retirement village, 113 homes by Lioncourt Homes and a petrol station.
Shirley Advance teamed up with Solihull Council and ASDA to bring forward the development. The site is already owned by the three parties, so no additional land is required to deliver the project.
All of the existing buildings on the 10-acre site will be demolished, including the Powergen tower and the redundant multi-storey car park.
The site masterplan (left) includes:
· An ExtraCare retirement village with 261 x 1 and 2 bed apartments – 60% of which will be offered on an ‘affordable’ basis with 104 x Shared Ownership and 52 x Rented dwellings.
· A total of 113 new homes to be delivered by Lioncourt Homes with 57 x 2 bed apartments, 7 x 2 bed houses, 31 x 3 bed houses and 18 x 4 bed houses. These properties will be built to comply with the Government’s ‘Help to Buy’ initiative.
· A five-pump ASDA petrol station with convenience kiosk.
· Associated Car Parking and Highway Works.
Site clearance and demolition work will begin in the spring, together with associated on and off-site highways works.
It is envisaged the first new homes will be ready by the end of 2016 and the petrol station opening shortly afterwards. The remaining homes will be built in phases during the course of 2016-2018. The ExtraCare retirement village will complete before the end of 2019.
Robert Birch, of Shirley Advance said: “This is great news, after so many years of uncertainty surrounding the old Powergen site. The consultation we undertook with local people indicated that this new development will be very welcome in Shirley. We are looking forward to getting the project under way.”
Mark Curran, Development and Sales Director for The ExtraCare Charitable Trust, added: “The village will provide spacious homes, care for those who need support to remain independent and an inspirational lifestyle.”
