Solihull's Mell Square urban village plans take environmental step forward

The plans for Solihull’s Mell Square shopping centre, which include new bars, shops and restaurants, were originally revealed last year. 

Solihull Council originally paid just under £35 million to take control of Mell Square Ltd in April 2021. 

Earlier this year the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme (LDRS) reported the scheme had reached an “early design phase” with the aim for the first stage of development to begin in autumn 2025.

And in August the LDRS reported residents and businesses were given the opportunity to have their say on what they want to see at the site which is set to be transformed over the next decade.

Muse Places Ltd was chosen as the preferred development partner for the scheme and, in a new statement, it has announced an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Scoping Report has been submitted to the Council.

The scoping report is a stage designed to set out what needs to be assessed in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and is done ahead of a planning application being submitted. 

Muse says the stage will allow scoping and investigations to take place of “various environmental factors such a landscape and visual appeal, air quality and noise and vibration”.

Maggie Grogan, managing director for Muse – Midlands, said: “In partnership with Solihull Council, we are bringing forward transformative proposals that will reinvigorate Mell Square as a destination for living, visiting, socialising and working.

“The council will consider the feedback from consultees and the community on the EIA report we have submitted and respond with an ‘EIA Scoping Opinion’. 

“This will outline what it considers the main environmental effects of the development are likely to be and, therefore, the aspects which the environmental statement in the proposed planning application should focus on.

“After running a public survey in the summer which attracted a high response rate, we are continuing this engagement with the local community by inviting them to get involved in a full public consultation next month.”