Over a Decade of Change
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New Shops Public Consultation New Community Facilities Demolitions New Housing Over a Grant Funding Resident Engagement Decade of Change New Primary Schools New Parks Regeneration: Before and After What’s the Story? Strategic Context North Solihull was created on open land during the 1960’s to provide overspill A M6 M A00 housing for the inner-city areas of Birmingham. The residential development, 6 A 5 A 8 which was predominantly council owned, included 42 tower blocks. With the A1 AM decline of manufacturing industries in the area and difficulties in developing the A A A00 A skills required to access new jobs, unemployment increased. The area became part BRMNGAM 4 BRMNGAM A 7 of Solihull in the 1970’s boundary changes. A0 BSNESS ARK M6 Birmingham 3 A International Airport NEC Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council (SMBC) recognised that regeneration of A 6 the North Solihull area was required to address the health, education and housing A A A1 imbalance with the rest of the Borough, and in 2003 started a detailed procurement A00 A1 exercise to acquire a development partner to lead a ‘holistic approach’ to a 15 year M A11 COVENTRY regeneration programme. SO A 5 A In May 2005 a Regeneration Agreement was signed with the chosen partners and A North Solihull Partnership LLP (NSP) was formed with SMBC as the accountable A 4 body, Bellway Homes as housing developer, WM Housing as the affordable housing A11 A9 provider and Sigma InPartnership the commercial developer. M 3 A6 A A The VisionM0 Solihull Council North Solihull Partnership Funding Invests Land Invests Land Regenerating To improve the quality of life for 40,000 people in North Solihull through large scale, Model North Solihull holistic regeneration over the next 15 – 20 years. The Partnership uses land l Funding is generated Neighbourhood l To close the inequality gap between North and South Solihull. profits to build new schools Planning takes place through the Council supplying and community facilities l To deliver regeneration that the communities of North Solihull are involved in and land to NSP committed to. Consultation REGENERATION Planning is secured for l The Partnership then sells this with local residents development land ACTIVITIES l To create high quality neighbourhoods, each with a distinctive sense of place. New primary schools land for an increased value, New village centres The Partnership looks at Investment in green space l To create healthy and safe communities. Development is brought once planning permission is affordability of proposed new and new homes forward in phases granted development l To increase prosperity through improved education, training, employment and transport. l The money from the sales The Partnership considers all is reinvested back into the proposed new developments l To deliver sustainable development in order that the quality of life of present and within its business plan project future generations is protected and enhanced. Facts New Homes £226.6m total investment The wards of Chelmsley Wood, Smiths Wood and parts of Kingshurst were originally developed to a largely Radburn 1700 new homes layout. Vehicles and pedestrians were segregated in a ‘back-to-front’ layout with housing reversing onto streets and front doors opening onto semiprivate and public spaces. High-rise flats were developed with pockets of open space. Whilst housing densities were high, a uniform system of development evolved lacking in character, identity and 50% affordable housing diversity. The challenge facing Solihull Council and its partners was to reverse this decline and to secure sustainable change and benefits for North Solihull. 887 poor quality houses demolished Typical ‘Radburn’ housing layout Demolition of Nuffield & Worcester high rise blocks, 2010 Oaklands, 2011 l Demolition of 5 high rise tower blocks l Quality family homes for local residents Oxford Grove & Alcott l Constructed to Code for Sustainable Homes Grove in Chelmsley Wood l Broad range of new homes for sale and rent were the first new homes to be built in the area for quite a few years Digby Court is a development of new homes built by Bellway on the former site of Bishop Wilson Primary School, off and proved so popular Pike Drive. Chris and Zoe Dingley are the proud owners of a new three-bedroom, semi-detached house within the half of the development development. sold ’off plan’. Chris said: “We love our new home. Our preference was a new-build home, mainly because I work different hours, and I didn’t want to have to do a lot of work to the house when we moved in. With a new-build, everything is ready from day one, which was really appealing. “Having grown up not too far away, I know the area well and the regeneration work has completely changed the area. Oxford Grove, 2006 Chelmsley Wood used to have a reputation as not a great area to live, but the work that Bellway has done along with everybody else has completely transformed it into a fantastic community.” Fillingham Court is a smart new apartment block specifically designed for people aged over 55. Resident Fillingham Court, 2015 Carol Panton (pictured right) moved into one of the apartments in 2015. She said: I saw these flats being built and was really impressed, they have put a lot of thought into them. “I love it here. It is modern, warm and really comfortable. There is lots of space, all the rooms are big and the doors are wide to make it easier for people who may need to use a wheelchair. I’ve got a nice balcony, and the surrounding grounds are very attractive and well looked after. “They have a social club here which organises activities such as bingo, coffee afternoons, barbecues and outings. There’s a big communal hall where you can just go in and have a natter. There is a real sense of mutual support and community. I think the regeneration scheme is doing a lot for the area. There’s the new medical centre, shops, schools and a café all on our doorstep. “There’s been new houses going up too so there are places for sale as well as rent, which I think is a good thing – it makes for a more mixed community. It’s nice to see so much being done to revitalise the area.” New homes integrated BEFORE with parks and open spaces providing valuable local amenities for all ages. Homes constructed to Homes & Communities Design & Quality Standards. Montford Rise & Woodlands Green Park, 2016 The Local Public House AFTER Forest Oak, 2017 in Arran Way, Smith’s Wood New Apartments, Henley Grange, 2010 Facts New Primary Schools £52m total investment 6 new primary schools Regenerating North Solihull was never just about building new houses. The challenge of improving the education of children across the community was at the heart of this significant and innovative project. It has helped to fund brand new primary schools across Smith’s Wood, Kingshurst & Fordbridge and Chelmsley Wood by reinvesting the money 4,095 primary school raised from selling new homes. places The plan was to replace 15 Junior and Infant schools with 10 newly built or remodelled primary schools, fit for the 21st Century, creating high quality teaching environments which will include ‘fully integrated’ extended services for children Key Stage 2 & 4 educational and young families across the community. The North Solihull Partnership has delivered six brand new primary schools improvements with a seventh at the planning stage. Bishop Wilson, 2013 l Kingshurst Primary, 2008 l Smith’s Wood Community Primary, 2009 l St Anne’s Catholic Primary, 2011 l Bishop Wilson Church of England Primary , 2013 l Coleshill Heath Primary, 2015 l Fordbridge Primary, 2015 l 3 further schools are being extensively remodelled to achieve up to date quality standards to ESFA Part 6 St Anne’s Catholic Primary, 2011 Bishop Wilson Church of England Primary School was officially opened by the Mayor in July 2014. Funded by the regeneration project and the Birmingham C of E Diocese, it not only provides education for local 3 – 11 year olds but is also home to a new church, an adult learning centre and community facilities. Headteacher Jon Kirk said: “So many opportunities are opening up for our children since we moved to Chelmund’s Cross. It is great to be at the centre of our community and with our fantastic facilities our children can learn in so many different ways. Our school is also frequently used by other community clubs and we are very pleased to be hosting Chelmund’s Day again this year. Our children love having our church on site which is made larger by moving our partitioned walls each week to create a wonderful space. This same space accommodates trampolining and dinner time activities later in the day. All these things help make our children proud of their school and proud of their community.” Fordbridge Community Primary School, which opened in September 2015 and takes 2-11-year-olds, was built on the 2015 site of the former Bennetts Well School in Crabtree Drive. Headteacher Rob Fletcher said: “There was a whole ‘visioning project’ involving all the staff, children and the community about what we wanted the school’s ethos and culture to be, based on what would be most beneficial to the community and education in this area. “It was built so that every classroom has access to the outdoors, we have wide ‘enquiry hubs’ instead of narrow corridors and as much natural light in the building as possible. It is also a community hub – we have clubs that run throughout the year and Solihull College uses it for different courses.