SLP KDBH Extracts - Flipbook - Page 9
lesser degree, at Castle Bromwich. Detached housing development was more predominant
around Solihull. Small settlement expansion also occurred in the Rural Area at Hampton-inArden, Marston Green, Hockley Heath, Meriden and on part of Balsall Common. During the
inter-war period, large industrial areas relating to the automotive industry developed, such as
the Land Rover motor works and the early example of a research and development campus
at Shirley, latterly owned by TRW. Birmingham Airport was also developed at this time,
opening in 1939 as a municipal airport.
29.
After 1945, there was a huge wave of predominantly terraced and multi-storey residential
development in the north-west part of the Borough from Castle Bromwich southwards.
Residential development at Kingshurst was followed in the 1960s by overspill development
from Birmingham into Smiths Wood and Chelmsley Wood. At the same time, Dorridge
expanded from a small settlement that was focussed around Dorridge railway station.
Development at Shirley, Olton, Lyndon and Elmdon towards Solihull continued and by 1955,
thus closing the gap between Solihull and Birmingham.
30.
Since the mid 20th Century, most residential development has occurred at Monkspath and
Hillfield, Balsall Common, Cheswick Green, Meriden, Knowle and Dorridge, and most
recently, since the late 1990s, at Dickens Heath. Most large scale commercial development
occurred at the National Exhibition Centre in the 1970s, Birmingham Business Park since the
late 1980s, Blythe Valley Park since the late 1990s, and more recently, the Touchwood
Shopping Centre in Solihull Town Centre.
The Borough Now
31.
The regional and national impact and role of Solihull’s strategic economic assets is
significant. Solihull’s economy produces goods and services valued at £7.5 (bn) (GVA) and
supports around 109,000 jobs. 1 With an estimated 61.5% of the Borough’s workforce
commuting in2, it plays a vital role in the regional economy and labour market.
32.
The strength and dynamism of the Solihull economy is illustrated by a range of measure,
including:
At £49,328 Solihull GDP per head was 53% higher than the UK average and 82%
higher than that of the West Midlands region in 2018. Solihull has the 9th highest GDP
per head out of 179 economic areas in the UK and the 2nd highest outside of London
and the South East (smaller only than Edinburgh)3
Over the five year period 2013-2018 GVA in Solihull increased by a total of 53% (£3.4
billion) more than double the UK average (20%)4
At £77,095 GVA per filled job in Solihull was 37% higher than the UK average
(£56,387) in 20185. Solihull has the 8th highest GVA per job out of 179 economic
areas in the UK and the 2nd highest outside of London and the South East6
GVA per job in Solihull increased by £16,765 in nominal terms in the five years 2013
to 2018. At 28% this is much higher than the UK (12%) and West Midlands (15%)
averages and the 6th highest out of 179 economic areas in the UK7
1
Experian data, 2020
ONS, Census 2011
3
ONS: Regional Economic Activity by GDP (Balanced) 1998 to 2018
4
ONS: Regional Economic Activity by GDP (Balanced) 1998 to 2018
5
ONS: Sub-regional labour productivity by UK NUTS2 and NUTS3 sub-regions 2018
6
ONS: Sub regional productivity 2018
7
ONS: Sub regional productivity 2018
2
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