Millions of pounds worth of investment will help Solihull bounce back after the pandemic.
This will deliver a massive transport and housing hub, which will bring quality jobs to Solihull – and help protect the green belt.
Earlier this month, Chancellor Rishi Sunak confirmed the £50 million funding to enable the ‘UK Central’ hub to go ahead, after lobbying from myself.
UK Central is a major housing and commercial development scheme around the forthcoming HS2 Solihull Interchange near Birmingham Airport and is part of my plan to make the most of the High-Speed rail line long-term for Solihull.
This huge investment in Solihull will play a very important role in the recovery of the local economy, creating a new economic zone that will bring in more money and create jobs.
This funding will also help protect the green belt in Solihull, by using land more efficiently by building on a large, flat car park.
The £50 million will be used to replace surface parking with a new multi-storey parking facility, thereby unlocking 28 hectares for new businesses and homes around the High Speed 2 Birmingham Interchange Station.
I have been working closely with Meriden MP Saqib Bhatti, Solihull Council and the Urban Growth Company to make the case for the investment, which will unlock an economic zone around the interchange area and protect the green belt by helping to reduce the impact of the high speed rail line.
Saqib Bhatti said: “Building a multi-storey car park as opposed to tarmacking acres of valuable land means we can reap the benefits that the HS2 Interchange Station brings directly to the local area and its residents. This will create jobs and protect our greenbelt.”
Councillor Ian Courts, Leader of Solihull Council, said: “It’s fantastic news for Solihull to secure such a significant investment in the Budget. This vital financial injection provides the stimulus for us to begin to realise the incredible development opportunity at the UK Central Hub.
“I’d like to thank Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, all involved at the Council and the Urban Growth Company for helping to make this possible. Through working tirelessly over many years with partner organisations we’ve been able to ensure our bold vision for this part of the borough comes to fruition.”
This is a brilliant example of my plan to bring jobs, transport and housing together in one place – while finding ways to develop for the future while protecting the environment.
