Official Solihull Thread

[Guilbert53]

Originally Posted by Assa

I'm a fan of this development on the whole. Some nice new retail space for some highstreet names to return would be very good for Shirley and surrounding areas if it was a viable alternative to Solihull. I do worry that the A34 will get easily gridlocked, though.

I also live near this development, but I am not sure I am such fan.

I agree that Shirley high street does seem to be dying, but I am not sure this is the answer. I am also unhappy that part of Shirley park will be taken for this development (there is NO excuse for that).

I have no problem with an Asda in the Solihull/Shirley area, but that is not the right place for it.

The roads around here are busy as they are, and do not need more traffic. Haslucks Green Road (where Asda's entrance will be) is not really big enough to cope with a supermarket entrance. Most of the other supermarkets near here have their entrance on the Stratford Road.

Many people seem to think that an Asda's will bring more people to Shirley high street. While it will bring more people to Asda I am not sure how many people will come out of the Asda and walk round the rest of the shops. Lets face it, when most of us go supermarket shopping we rarely visit any other shops.

It will certainly spell the death of the other side of the road (the side Marks & Spencer Food are). Many shops have already closed that side, and this development will kill off even more (few people will cross the road over from Asda).

I think in 10 years time the other side of the road will be all flats and no shops.

Mind you, I do think the old high street concept is dying (all over the UK) and we are gradually losing all our high streets.

[Guilbert53]

Note you can go an see the plans for this development from TODAY (17th June) till Saturday (19th June) in Shirley Baptist Church. Note opening times.

See more here (top right)

http://www.parkgateshirley.com/

[morestoreysplease]

What are they going to do about the old Powergen building further up on the other corner of Hasluck's Green Road? It's been empty for at least 10 years and could be overhauled to become offices again or yes you've guessed it - a hotel!!

[Guilbert53]

Originally Posted by morestoreysplease

What are they going to do about the old Powergen building further up on the other corner of Hasluck's Green Road? It's been empty for at least 10 years and could be overhauled to become offices again or yes you've guessed it - a hotel!!

As far as I know the Powergen site is still owned by Asda.

This was going to be the original site for the Asda store, before they then moved it to its current position.

As part of the Shirley redevelopment a new roundabout will be built at this junction which will "chop off" a corner of the Powergen site (se web site).

I guess if/when the new Asda's is built then Asda will sell this Powergen site and my guess it will probably become flats/houses.

[Steldemetriou]

http://www.giraffe.net/jobs/181

Giraffe opening a new restaurant in Sol, not sure where

[joshwebb]

Originally Posted by Guilbert53

I also live near this development, but I am not sure I am such fan.

I agree that Shirley high street does seem to be dying, but I am not sure this is the answer. I am also unhappy that part of Shirley park will be taken for this development (there is NO excuse for that).

I have no problem with an Asda in the Solihull/Shirley area, but that is not the right place for it.

The roads around here are busy as they are, and do not need more traffic. Haslucks Green Road (where Asda's entrance will be) is not really big enough to cope with a supermarket entrance. Most of the other supermarkets near here have their entrance on the Stratford Road.

Many people seem to think that an Asda's will bring more people to Shirley high street. While it will bring more people to Asda I am not sure how many people will come out of the Asda and walk round the rest of the shops. Lets face it, when most of us go supermarket shopping we rarely visit any other shops.

It will certainly spell the death of the other side of the road (the side Marks & Spencer Food are). Many shops have already closed that side, and this development will kill off even more (few people will cross the road over from Asda).

I think in 10 years time the other side of the road will be all flats and no shops.

Mind you, I do think the old high street concept is dying (all over the UK) and we are gradually losing all our high streets.

If asda is built will it be were that 8 story building is on haslucks green road or that patch of land accross the road next to the british leigon?

[Guilbert53]

Originally Posted by joshwebb

If asda is built will it be were that 8 story building is on haslucks green road or that patch of land accross the road next to the british leigon?

The 8 storey building on Haslucks Green Road is the old Powergen site. This was originally bought by Asda (in 1996) and WAS going to be the site of Asda. I remember going to the "no Asda" protest about that time, here is a picture of the protest:

http://keepshirleyalive.org.uk/history.asp

Then the old Territorial Army base on the other side of the road was demolished (again quite a few years ago) and now that area is the site of the new development.

The development will also include some of the buildings and shops facing the Stratford Road (like the old Bank of Ireland building). It is basically the land BEHIND the old Woolworths and Shirley Baptist Church

The development will include an Asda, some shops, and some houses and flats.

You can see a plan of the development here

http://www.parkgateshirley.com/new-designs-plans/

[joshwebb]

I remember when I was young when all that was happening and didn't lots of people have say no to asda posters in their windows?

[Guilbert53]

Originally Posted by joshwebb

I remember when I was young when all that was happening and didn't lots of people have say no to asda posters in their windows?

Yes "Say No to ASDA" poster was very common in people's windows.

I think there is one old guy in a street near me still has it in his window.

[joshwebb]

Really? Haha weres that? Yeah they were bright colours wernt theym

[Biosonic]

http://www.birminghampost.net/news/w...5233-27433940/

Plans to expand Solihull town centre revealed
Oct 10 2010 By Sophie Cross

Add a commentRecommend Ambitious plans to enhance Solihull’s two flagship shopping centres and increase the size of the town centre have been unveiled.

Touchwood and Mel Square shopping centres will be expanded under the proposals by Solihull Council, as part of a “major retail, office, leisure, cultural and tourism development”.

Other plans include developing Chelmsley Wood and Shirley town centres to “meet local needs and improve competitiveness”.

The scheme has been outlined in the council’s core development strategy, which also proposes building 10,500 homes in the borough.

Controversial proposals include adjusting green belt boundaries to allow for more house building with 200 green field sites likely to be released for development.

In addition, the council wants to create 26 permanent travellers’ pitches and five transit pitches by 2017.

Residents are being asked to take part in a consultation on the proposals.

Part of the consultation will focus on proposed areas for more affordable housing and the public will be able to comment on existing suggestions or put forward areas of their own.

Solihull, which is home to more than 200,000 residents, currently has a lengthy social housing waiting list of about 15,000.

The council said it has not ruled out building on green belt or on gardens to ensure housing needs are met.

The Government recently reclassified garden land from brownfield to greenfield to try and stamp out the practice of “garden grabbing”, where developers build new homes or flats on back gardens.

Coun John Reeve, cabinet member for economic development and regeneration, said: “What we want to avoid in the long term is the process of planning by appeal.

“For me, the issue with green belt is about its ecological value – whether it is a green corridor or whether it just looks like a green corridor.”

The plans for Solihull town centre include creating 55,000 square metres of additional retail space by 2021– a figure almost the size of Touchwood shopping centre, which has 54,000 square metres.

A further 25,000 sqm of retail floor space could be in place by 2026, as could 35,000 sqm of new office floor space.

In addition, up to 1,565 homes could be built around the town centre over the same period.

Council leader Ian Hedley said: “Solihull town centre is a place of quality and distinction and one of the most successful in the West Midlands. We are intent on it remaining so.

“We want to both encourage and control development so that improvements can be made to retailing access and the public realm, in a way that enhances and doesn’t threaten its current character, viability and vitality.”

Other controversial ideas include expanding Birmingham Business Park into the green belt.

Paul Watson, strategic director of community and economic regeneration, said the council had tried to make the process of drawing up the draft strategy “open and transparent”.

He said: “The current plan runs out in 2011 and if we are going to effectively control development, meet housing needs and promote economic growth, we need to do this work ‘with’ local people, and not ‘to’ them.

“We need to lead the debate, not just respond to outside pressures. This borough must not stagnate, it needs to grow.”

Once the consultation is completed, the finished strategy will form part of the council’s Local Development Framework, which will replace its Unitary Development Plan that expires in March 2011.

* The consultation period will run until December 10. Feedback can be given in person during a series of drop-in sessions – the first of which is at Marston Green Library on October 18 – through leaflets available at local libraries and Solihull Connect, or at www.solihull.gov.uk/ldf

[Guilbert53]

>Touchwood and Mel Square

This article was not checked very well. It is MELL Square not Mel Square.

I had heard that the Council are thinking of selling the council buildings next door to Touchwood and taking new offices outside of the centre of Solihull.

The Touchwood shopping centre would then be expanded to include the land where the council offices now stand.

My main concern with any increased development is the traffic situation.

The roads around the Solihull shopping area are not that great and could not cope with much more traffic.

This is particularly true on the East / South East side where the existing historic buildings and St Alpheges church make the roads very narrow, with no scope to widen them.

[Biosonic]

I hate it when councils ship their offices to some faceless business park. It's ironic that they want to regenerate areas but are not willing to actually play a part by having people work in their town/city centres.

At least the new BCC office is still in the city centre.

[morestoreysplease]

It's a real success story Touchwood. I remember visiting Solihull a lot when the surface carparks were at the rear of the High St and thinking it was pretty barren. Regards to the council offices - wasn't there space allocated for an hotel off Station Road once? Wouldn't this be a better position?

[Assa]

Often the problem is that the council is the only large employer in the town centre so taking all those people out of the town centre can have a huge effect on the local shops and businesses. As for Solihull there is a lot of business around the town centre besides the council so the effect wouldn't be too bad. I assume they would only be talking about the council office anyway and the police, library etc... would remain.

[ellbrown]

I've taken loads of photos in Solihull in the past, but feel like I've ran out of things to capture.

Here are some ...

image hosted on flickr

Touchwood, Solihull by ell brown, on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

East, 116 - 120 High Street, Solihull by ell brown, on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

Store Twenty One, High Street, Solihull by ell brown, on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

Laura Ashley, 124 High Street, Solihull by ell brown, on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

Manor House, Solihull by ell brown, on Flickr

[ellbrown]

Shirley

image hosted on flickr

Shirley Temple Restaurant, Stratford Road, Shirley by ell brown, on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

Shirley Station, Haslucks Green Road, Shirley - 150016 London Midland train by ell brown, on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

Burger King, Shirley (like the one in Back to the Future) by ell brown, on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

Former Powergen site in Shirley by ell brown, on Flickr

[ellbrown]

Olton

image hosted on flickr

207 railway bridge, Warwick Road, Olton by ell brown, on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

Olton Interchange outside Olton Station, Station Drive, Olton by ell brown, on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

Welcome to Solihull - sign in Olton by ell brown, on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

Parish Church of St Margaret, Olton by ell brown, on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

Olton Station, Station Drive, Olton by ell brown, on Flickr

[joshwebb]

My nan lives on the estate behind that burger king :P

[ellbrown]

That Burger King reminded me of the one in Back to the Future, one of the reasons I took that shot in Shirley.