Green light for Solihull mixed-use development at Mell Square
Published on Tuesday, 23 June 2015
Solihull planners have given the green light to a restaurant and office development in the town centre.
The 12,626 sq ft scheme comprises two units and will be built in Mell Square shopping centre on the corner of High Street and Drury Lane.
Owner IM Properties said it was already under offer with an unnamed occupier for the ground floor restaurant element which will have three floors of grade A office space above.
Formerly occupied by travel agency Thomas Cook and Johnsons dry cleaners, the building will be demolished to make way for the four-storey replacement which has been designed by Corstorphine + Wright.
Demolition work on the two current units is set to take place this autumn, with the building completed and ready for occupation by September 2016.
Rob Hemus, asset Manager at IM Properties, said: "This is a prominent location which will act as an outstanding statement building in a key location, creating another gateway to Mell Square.
"The scheme will provide a greater vibrancy and vitality to Mell Square and the town centre as a whole.
"We believe this will act as a catalyst for our future ambitions for Mell Square, improving the overall tenant mix, flow of consumers, increased footfall and more dwell time.
"Ultimately, this will help to enhance Solihull town centre's existing offering and improve the public enjoyment and evening economy of the town centre."
Warwickshire-based IM Properties acquired the 747,000 sq ft development from Aviva for £44 million in 2013.
Since then, it has also purchased other adjacent property holdings to further enhance its control of Mell Square.
The overall ownership currently includes 101 retail units, 57 apartments, four office buildings and parking for 252 cars.