Next step for 'most important' phase of Kingshurst Village regeneration project backed by senior councillors

Artist's impression of the proposed community building
-Credit:Solihull Council


A “once in a generation opportunity” to create a new 'village' for Kingshurst residents has taken another step forward as senior councillors have shown commitment to phase two. A large-scale rejuvenation of the village centre for people in the north Solihull borough gained approval from Solihull planners in April 2022 with the aim for it all to be completed by 2026.

At the latest meeting of Solihull Council ’s cabinet Perry Wardle, the authority’s assistant director for growth and development, reported phase one was delivered “on time and under budget”. Phase one saw 25 new sustainable social rented homes - a mix of three and four-bedroom - on the site of the former Mountfort pub.

Last month the authority provided an update on what it called the “once in a generation opportunity” saying the first residents had moved into their homes built by contractor Willmott Dixon. The project went before the cabinet with the recommendation to proceed with the next stage of design work on phase two of the scheme.

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The plans for phase two include ambitious plans for a ‘community, health and retail’ building featuring:

  • Modern purpose-built premises for Kingshurst Medical Practice, comprising six consulting rooms, four treatment rooms, reception and waiting areas, utility areas, toilets, meeting and administration rooms

  • A purpose-built premises for Kingshurst Dental Surgery, including five treatment/recovery rooms together with reception and utility areas

  • A pharmacy

  • An integrated care service space comprising health and social care consulting room

  • Activity rooms for the voluntary and community sector to use

  • Library space including a community cafe

  • A convenience store to be operated by Central England Co-operative

  • A further retail unit, anticipated to be operated as an optometrists

  • Potential office space

  • Communal areas including toilets, baby change and baby feeding rooms

Ruth Tennant, the authority’s director of public health, explained: “What we want to do in the hub is bring together key health services like GP, dentist, pharmacy, with the voluntary and community sector. What we are aiming to achieve by doing that is a different way of working, so that they (the services) make the most of being co-located.”

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She said detailed health analysis of Kingshurst in comparison with the rest of the borough had been carried out. “There are 500 emergency admissions in Kingshurst over and above what the average is for Solihull in any given ward," the officer said.

“We really are trying to shift care away from hospitals.” Leader of the authority's Green group Councillor Max McLoughlin said: “From the outset this has been the most important phase in terms of social value.

-Credit:Copyright Unknown
-Credit:Copyright Unknown

“I absolutely support this.” Councillor Ian Courts, leader of Solihull Council, said: “I think it is important to recognise this project did not come out of the blue.

“It was part of the regeneration programme we worked on years ago. We have consistently pushed this and looked for avenues of making sure it happened.

“It’s fantastic - another milestone.” Senior councillors agreed to prepare a full business case for phase two at the meeting which took place at the Civic Suite on January 16.