750-home housing development set for go-ahead in Solihull

A 750-home housing development in Solihull is expected to get the nod from the borough council after planners said they had no objections to the scheme providing a section 106 funding agreement is fulfilled.

IM Properties has proposed the housing scheme – said to be one of Solihull’s most ambitious sustainable new communities in recent years – for Blythe Valley Park.

The Warwickshire-based company is one of the region’s largest property investors. It also has a significant stake in Solihull, being the owner of the Mell Square Shopping centre in the town.

After a resolution to grant consent was given by the borough’s planning committee, outline planning consent from the full council is likely to be a formality subject to a section 106 legal agreement, which is likely to generate around £9.5m of additional investment in improvements to highways, footpaths, public transport, local schools and medical services.

As part of the approved plan, IM Properties will also look to add a further one million sq feet of commercial space at Blythe Valley, which will potentially create up to 7,300 new jobs in the area. Provision for a 200-bedroom hotel and a housing with care facility of up to 250 units, leisure and other uses of up to 40,000 sq ft is also included.

Lewis Payne, IM Properties’ development director said: “We have worked tirelessly on this application, including extensive public engagement and believe the new scheme will prove a tremendous boost to Solihull and provide much needed housing for younger families and first time buyers who want to find a home.

“The new community will have the benefit of a largely undiscovered 122-acre country park, which is to be enhanced and extended to surround the new scheme, creating a rich and diverse environment for all to thrive in and enjoy.”

IM Properties bought the 260-acre park out of receivership for around £125m at the end of 2014.