£3m investment to unlock homes at former school site
The site of a former secondary school in north Solihull is to be transformed into a new community of up to 175 homes thanks to a £3m investment by the West Midlands Combined Authority and delivery by Solihull Council.
The deal between the parties paves the way for the infrastructure and enabling works needed for the scheme on land that was once home to Simon Digby School in Chelmsley Wood.
Despite the pandemic, the WMCA has continued to make a series of multi-million-pound investments to provide market confidence and put in place the building blocks required to drive the region 's post-Covid-19 economic recovery plans.
West Midlands mayor Andy Street (pictured) said: "This investment is another great example of the commitment of the WMCA, alongside Solihull Council, to continue delivering new homes and jobs for local people during these challenging times.
"Before coronavirus struck, the West Midlands economy was growing fast, living standards were improving, and there was a rapid expansion in house building. The pandemic has hit us hard, but Simon Digby is just one of many schemes we are backing as part of our wider plans to get our economy back on track and regain our previous momentum.
"Not only does this scheme provide much-needed homes and jobs, but it also helps protect precious greenbelt land, something that I know is critically important to the residents of Solihull."
The Simon Digby scheme aims to see around 40 per cent of the new homes classed affordable under the WMCA 's unique definition of affordability, which is linked to real world local wages rather than property prices.
This is a direct result of WMCA funding clauses which require all developers receiving WMCA investment to include at least 20 per cent affordable homes in their schemes. The affordable housing percentage is also in line with planning policy for the area.
The £3m investment will be used to bring forward the majority of the site infrastructure including a new access road from the Chester Road (A452) and acoustic mitigation measures.
The development, which will be connected to nearby Chelmsley Wood Town Centre and the future HS2 Interchange Station, is also an important part of Solihull Council 's Local Plan and follows significant feasibility work in connection with the site and design work. It is also part of the council 's UK Central Solihull programme, which supports sustainable and inclusive growth across the borough.
An outline planning application and outline business case are due to be submitted later this year.
Previously secured funding from the WMCA is being utilised to bring these elements forward.