New village centre given the go-ahead in North Solihull
From Councillor Ian Courts, Cabinet Member for Economic Development on 14 June 2012
Planning permission has been given for the new village centre in Craig Croft, North Solihull, paving the way for the next step in the regeneration programme for the area.
The scheme is part of the overall North Solihull Regeneration Programme, which is a holistic 20 year programme of regeneration aimed at improving people's lives and bridging the gap of inequality between the north and south of the borough.
The new village centre will contain new shops, including a convenience food store, a health centre, pharmacy and dentist, offices and housing, all linking closely with new housing previously built in the area. There will be an open space area with outside seating,providing high quality public space.
It will also contain an Enterprise Centre, which will offer office space to small and start-up businesses.
The scheme has been part funded by the European Regional Development Fund.
There will also be changes to the roads in the area, including a 20mph speed limits on a number of streets. The Chester Road will be reduced to one lane in either direction and will have a 40mph speed limit. A new junction will be formed connecting the village centre to Chester Road, via Hedingham Grove. The junction will have signals, which will help pedestrians and people on bicycles to cross, and allow for the closing of a local underpass.
Public transport will be able to access the centre, which, along with new bus stops and cycle lanes, will make the centre easily reachable by people who do not have a car or wish to use public transport.
Planning permission for a new school, Bishop Wilson Church of England Primary School, was granted in 2011. This will be at the heart of the village centre and also provide community facilities, and house St Andrew’s Church, which will move from its current site to the school. Work to build the new school will be starting shortly.
Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Councillor Ian Courts, said: “Planning permission for the new Craig Croft Village Centre is a major step forward in our Regeneration Programme. I hope local people will join in welcoming the new health facilities, housing, enterprise centre and shopping that this development will create, as well as the dramatic improvement that will be brought about to the local environment."
Craig Croft Village Centre is the second village centre to be given the go ahead. Work has already started on the North Arran Way Village Centre in Smith's Wood.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
The planning application was made up of two parts:
Full planning permission for the Enterprise Centre and the highway works and public areas.
Outline planning permission for four buildings containing the shops, offices, housing, health centre.
Media enquiries only - Angharad Lynch 0121 704 6164
Email: alynch@solihull.gov.uk