Supermarket, cafes and new town square part of Chelmsley Wood revamp plans

An ambitious revamp of the northwest quarter of Chelmsley Wood town centre has entered a new phase as Solihull Council’s cabinet discussed the next steps.

Plans could see a new discount supermarket, cafes, food outlets, and a brand new town square be introduced to the area.

The 50-year-old town hub has become outdated and rundown over the years. Solihull Council owns most of the site and says it wants to see ‘more in the way of leisure activities, from cafes, bars and restaurants, to gyms and play areas’.

Plans are still in their early stages but have been split into three phases. Phase one will include the discount food store on the former library site, a new town square and public space, a pavilion opposite the food shop likely to be a cafe, and further food and retail developments at the former postal sorting office.

A pedestrian route between the neighbouring Chelmsley Wood Shopping Centre and the new northwest corner will be established under the plans. Officers say this will allow an important free flow of movement between the two areas.

Phase two could involve the relocation and subsequent demolition of Chelmsley Wood Job Centre, with a possible healthcare facility and residential block built in its place. The final phase would look to relocate the local police station to another spot in the town centre and replace the old one with apartments and townhouses.

Documents claim the new town square could be used for both seasonal and day-to-day events. Leader of the council Cllr Ian Courts said phases two and three were a little further away than phase one.

What was said about the plans?

At a cabinet meeting on Thursday, January 12, Cllr Courts said: “There seems to be a lot here that has been thought through very carefully. I’ve been quite cautious about lifting expectations because, with town centre schemes, they are not an 18-month job. Usually, they take several years to piece together.

“This is great news. I’m really enthusiastic, it’s not just a few fluffy plans, it’s thinking it all through. Well done team – push it on.”

Leader of the Solihull Lib Dems Cllr Laura McCarthy (Lib Dems, Elmdon) said: “I think this is fantastic and it’s really good to see this coming forward. I think it will be fantastic for the area if it all comes together.”

Leader of the Green Group Cllr Max McLoughlin (Greens, Shirley South) said: “I think it’s really important that, while creating jobs and economic activity in the area is great, when we’re looking at the future phases we look to promote independent, more local businesses as well because that retains a huge amount more wealth within the community.”