The leader of Solihull Council has defended a major town-centre redevelopment that will deliver 1,600 homes in the former Mell Square site, saying greater residential density is necessary to protect the borough's green spaces and maintain a viable high street.
Council leader: town-centre homes are part of the solution
Speaking on BBC Radio WM's Hot Seat, the council leader argued the Holbeche Place scheme would combine housing with the commercial needs of the town centre, and help sustain Solihull as a resilient retail destination. The development, which includes shops, restaurants and public areas, was approved by the council in February after plans were originally submitted last year.
"If we don't put housing in town centres, where they are easily accessible, we are going to have to end up building housing on our green spaces," the council leader told BBC Radio WM.
She acknowledged the evolving nature of retail, saying many companies now want smaller units and that housing above ground-floor retail is an established pattern. On concerns about parking, the leader said residents should consider Solihull's connectivity by public transport and active travel, and noted that the scheme represents a reduction of 546 parking spaces.
Residents voice worries over character and parking
Not all local opinion is positive. Some residents who spoke to BBC Radio WM described the designs as "bland" and raised worries the town centre could become a "ghost town" if too much emphasis is placed on housing at the expense of daytime footfall and varied uses.
- Homes proposed: 1,600
- Location: former Mell Square / Holbeche Place
- Parking reduction: 546 spaces
- Planning status: Approved by council in February
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Homes | 1,600 |
| Parking spaces (net reduction) | 546 |
| Approval | Council approved scheme in February |
The council has said the development will strengthen Solihull's position as "one of the UK's most resilient and high-performing town centres" and that the proposals will create new leisure and retail opportunities alongside housing.
Balancing growth with town-centre vitality
For local residents and traders the debate touches on competing priorities. On one hand, higher-density, town-centre housing can reduce pressure to build on open countryside and support evening and weekend economies. On the other, there are anxieties about reduced parking, the visual and architectural quality of new blocks, and whether increased residential numbers will actually sustain rather than hollow out daytime trade.
Transport considerations are central to the council leader's defence. She pointed to Solihull's rail and bus links and active travel routes as reasons why new town-centre homes can work with fewer car spaces than a suburban development. Even so, the figure of 546 fewer parking spaces is likely to remain a focal point for local debate as detailed designs and delivery timelines are worked out.
Holbeche Place forms part of a wider conversation across the West Midlands about how town centres adapt to changes in retail, commuting and lifestyle. For many Solihull residents the question is practical and immediate: how will the proposals affect their daily journeys, where their children will play, and the long-term character of the town centre they know?
The council has said more information will follow as the scheme progresses. In the meantime, residents and businesses are expected to continue engaging with planners and councillors over details of design, parking management and how new public spaces will be used.
This development will test how Solihull balances housing need, economic resilience and local character at a moment when town centres across Britain are rethinking their futures.
