SLP KDBH Extracts - Flipbook - Page 32
74.
The GBSLEP’s HS2 Growth Strategy (July 2015) also outlined how to fully maximise the
benefits of one of the largest infrastructure projects in Europe – including the need to take
advantage of the opportunity for development around the interchange station to create a:
“high value, mixed activity economic growth hub in a highly accessible, well serviced
and concentrated urban environment. Through taking an innovative and modern
approach to ‘garden city’ principles that are fit for the current and future era, the
development of ‘lifestyle districts’ in and around the Interchange Station will embrace
a range of mixed uses; sustainability techniques; the very best infrastructure; and
accessibility.”
75.
Now that the area’s potential has been recognised, it is important that every opportunity is
taken to ensure that the vision is realised and delivery gets underway. To help achieve this
an appropriate planning framework is needed that can encourage, guide and facilitate
development to take place in a managed and coordinated manner. The approach of this
Local Plan Review recognises that delivery of the area’s potential will take place over many
years and it must remain flexible to ensure that no future opportunities are lost.
76.
Delivery isn’t just about having an appropriate planning framework in place, and it’s in this
context that in 2016 the Council established the UK Central Urban Growth Company (UGC)
to lead the delivery of the project.
77.
The UGC has brought together the key stakeholders from The Hub area to develop a
Framework Plan (2018) that illustrates the key components and growth aspirations of the
partners; together with an indication of the infrastructure needed to support delivery of the
project. The Hub Growth and Infrastructure Plan (2019) sets out the vision for the UK
Central Solihull Hub Area:
‘The opportunity at the Hub is unlike any other in the UK; it benefits from a
combination of factors that no other national proposal, either in place or planned,
can compete with. It is unrivalled in terms of the scale of the development proposals,
the infrastructure investment, the proximity to major conurbations’
78.
Arden Cross Limited, the delivery vehicle formed by the consortium of landowners for Site
UK1 (HS2 Interchange triangle), is developing a masterplan to set out the various
components of the site and the development principles which will shape delivery.
79.
It is clear from what has already been described that the Hub area embraces a unique
concentration of economic assets and potential which holds out the prospect of making a
significant contribution to the Government’s aims for job creation and growth. What is
needed as part of this plan is a policy approach that allows these assets to flourish whilst
providing a framework to ensure that the resulting developments provide a well integrated
sense of place, with easy access through the area, and is supported by appropriate
infrastructure. The focus of the policy is to ensure these existing, new and expanded assets
work together as part of a whole. This will ensure that the ‘whole is greater than the sum of
the parts’.
Policy P1 UK Central Solihull Hub Area
1.
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UK Central Solihull incorporates Blythe Valley Park, North Solihull, Solihull Town
Centre and the Hub Area including the High Speed 2 Interchange Station at Arden
Cross. The Hub Area offers the greatest potential for growth in the Borough and
includes a major strategic mixed use site at Arden Cross which will deliver significant
employment and residential development, both during and beyond the Plan period;
and will make a significant contribution to the wider West Midlands economy.