FAQs

The plans for Holbeche Place retain Solihull’s unique character by complementing and repurposing existing buildings, whilst also creating exciting new public spaces to support the local community. It is also a chance to re-imagine this part of Solihull town centre in line with the Council’s long-term vision, with an active evening economy, restaurants, bars, and spaces to meet and spend time.

In March 2025, Muse submitted a Hybrid Planning Application to redevelop the Mell Square Shopping Centre area of Solihull town centre. These plans were approved by Solihull Council’s Planning Committee on 6 February 2026.
A Hybrid Planning Application allowed us to secure permission for some parts of the scheme straight away, while setting the foundations for the rest of the site to come forward in stages. We now have full planning permission for Phase 1, which includes the detailed design for new homes, shared outdoor spaces, areas for shops or community uses, improved public spaces and parking.

For the rest of the site, outline planning permission has been granted, setting the overall vision and guidelines for future phases, while keeping the detailed design flexible so that plans can continue to be shaped through further technical work and community engagement.

The development is not funded by Solihull Council. Muse fund the design of the Masterplan and subsequent phases, with each phase of Holbeche Place having their own funding structure, reflecting the type of homes and the spaces being delivered.
The delivery of Phase 1 is funded through a combination of private development finance, Muse’s own investment, and grant funding from the Wet Midlands Combined Authority. Phase 2 will be delivered in partnership with HABIKO and draws on a combination of affordable housing investment and development finance. Further detail on funding for future phases will be shared as the programme develops.

Muse has been working in partnership with Solihull Council since 2023 to develop the transformational mixed-use masterplan. It is part of a wider commitment to long-term investment in Solihull, seeking to diversify and boost the economy whilst responding to evolving lifestyles and consumer habits. Solihull Council owns the land and brings its strategic ambition for the town centre, while Muse brings development expertise and a track record of delivering complex, mixed-use urban regeneration projects across the UK.

Click here to see what our partnerships have delivered elsewhere in the country. (Where do we need to link to?)

The plans for Holbeche Place retain Solihull’s unique character by complementing and repurposing existing buildings, whilst also creating exciting new public spaces to support the local community. It is also a chance to re-imagine this part of Solihull town centre in line with the Council’s long-term vision, with an active evening economy, restaurants, bars, and spaces to meet and spend time.

Yes. Solihull has one of the highest ratios of house prices to local earnings in the West Midlands, making homeownership and renting increasingly out of reach for many. Holbeche Place will deliver homes for the whole community, including a mix of build-to-rent, affordable housing and open market sale, helping to ensure the town centre offers options for a wide range of people at different stages of life.

‘Affordable housing’ is a term defined by national planning policy. It refers to homes made available at below market rates to households who cannot afford to access housing through the open market. At Holbeche Place, this currently includes Discount Market Rent proposed in Phase 2, where rents will be set at a minimum of 20% below the market rate.

We are committed to ensuring that affordable homes at Holbeche Place are accessible to people on local incomes, and indistinguishable in quality and design from private homes within the same neighbourhood.

Yes. Holbeche Place will deliver homes for the whole community, the proposed mix includes build-to-rent, affordable housing and open market sale. Further detail on the sales programme will be announced ahead of the market launch of each phase.

Some car parking will be provided for residents of each phase. Parking levels have been designed in line with Solihull’s local planning policy, reflecting the site’s highly accessible town centre location and excellent public transport connections.

As the design for each phase comes forward, the capacity of the local road network will be assessed to determine whether additional car parking is required. As the detailed plans for future phases continue to evolve, the masterplan remains flexible to respond to changing needs and travel patterns.

Further detail on parking provision for each phase will be published as part of the public consultation and planning application submission for that phase.

Some on-street public car parking spaces will likely have to be relocated as the masterplan progresses, but there will be a no net loss of accessible parking spaces across the site. For other visitors to the town centre who wish to drive, there are several council car parks available to use.

Please visit the Solihull Council website for more information.

Yes. Secure cycle parking will be provided for all residents, and accessible visitor cycle parking will be available throughout the public areas. Encouraging walking and cycling is a core principle of the Holbeche Place masterplan, with routes connecting directly to Solihull town centre and the wider network. As the masterplan progresses, we will continue to look at how we can innovate and implement publicly accessible cycle friendly infrastructure.