Planning has been granted to Bloor Homes on the final plot of 114 homes at Blythe Valley Park, as part of the 750 new homes being delivered on the mixed-use scheme near Solihull, on junction 4 of the M42.
The latest consent is described by planning and development consultants, Turley, as a major achievement by park owners, IM Properties, to ensure all the building blocks are in place so quickly to create the new community.
IM Properties has worked with four development partners, delivering the new homes, new neighbourhood centre and apartments and extra care home facility to gain final consents on all their plots in record time since outline planning was gained in March 2017.
Bloor Homes will build the 114 units, together with the 588 new homes being delivered alongside Crest Nicholson, due for completion over the next three years.
Richard Knight, technical director at IM Properties said:
“The speed at which planning consents have been gained underlines our holistic approach and the careful thought that has gone into master planning Blythe Valley Park to ensure a smooth pathway to commence building.
“All the main infrastructure works were completed up front, including roads and utilities, to enable our development partners to concentrate on the delivery of the dwellings through what have been challenging times.”
Charlotte Palmer, from Turley, who provided planning, strategic communications and design services for the project said:
“In development terms, it’s a huge achievement to submit, obtain reserved matters approval and implement nearly all of the phases of development within four years of outline planning permission..
“IM Properties has established a good relationship with Solihull Borough Council and most importantly, has shown it has designed and implemented each phase as outlined, demonstrating as a company, it does what it says it will do.”
The more holistic approach to the scheme has meant placemaking has been at the forefront to ensure the residential element seamlessly links up with the commercial aspects of the mixed-use offering and the surrounding 122 acres of parkland.
IM Properties are constructing the neighbourhood themselves including 36 apartments for rent, which will act as the hub of the new emerging community and include a convenience store and further retail units.
Knight added:
“The neighbourhood centre should be completed in April this year and then the icing on the cake will really be the implementation of our extensive landscaping and play strategy plan, which will include large & smaller connector play areas along the footpath network, plus football pitches and a BMX track.”
A new bus service is also already operating, part funded by IM Properties which helps connect Blythe Valley Park with surrounding neighbourhoods. A range of amenities are also already available, including a Virgin Active Gym, Java Lounge Coffee House and Busy Bees Nursery.
Tim Wooldridge, IM Properties’ managing director concluded:
“It has been a real team effort from our investment, technical and land teams through to our trusted and dedicated supply chain. Turley together with our other consultants have really gone above and beyond during the planning process to ensure we could meet all of the targets we set and continue to strive for.”
BVP is already home to a large number of leading companies across a range of sectors including Gymshark, Lounge, PKF Cooper Parry, Siemens and Zenith.