Almost 200 jobs to be created as Resorts World expansion plans get green light
Published on Thursday, 28 May 2020
The go-ahead has been given to significantly expand the Resorts World Arena at the NEC campus after Solihull Borough Council’s planning committee unanimously backed the plans last night.
The move will mean the NEC Group will increase the venue’s capacity by 6,000 to 21,600 ahead of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Almost 300 jobs will be created.
A council document published ahead of the meeting said: “The proposal would clearly support the NEC function and have enhance the offer.
“The Arena extension would have significant economic benefits allowing the Arena to increase its capacity and to remain competitive and successful, which in turn would maximise the economic benefits for the area, and indeed region.
“The proposal therefore accords with the provisions of Policy P1 of the Solihull Local Plan and the requirements for sustainable growth set out in the NPPF and significant weight should be attached to the matter in the planning balance.
“The proposals could also fit with the NEC masterplan ambitions for Lakeside. Here, the NEC Masterplan intends tobring together different facets of the NEC to create the next generation in leisure entertainment and business destinations and create a new asset that will propel the regions global standing.
“The plan responds to the growing need for the region to have internationally competitive opportunities for investment and offers attractive to a wide audience.
“The applicants report that this proposal to increase the capacity of the Arena is absolutely necessary to ensure that the NEC continues to provide a premier venue that can cater for a wide audience.
“The proposed development creates a quality building that would significantly enhance the design quality of built environment of the area within the boundary of the NEC.
“The building has been aligned to provide strong geometry to the Piazza and will enhance the approach to this main entrance into the exhibition halls.”