Whilst many construction sites have endured a protracted period of suspension due to COVID-19, one of the projects that has continued construction on site has been the new neighbourhood centre and apartments at Blythe Valley Park (BVP) – on the outskirts of Solihull. The scheme is part of IM Properties’ strategic vision to create a new high quality and sustainable mixed-use community at Blythe Valley Park.
This week has seen the steel frame being erected on site to support the 4 storey neighbourhood centre scheme and whilst the emergent challenges of the Coronavirus pandemic have been significant, the Contractor team at GF Tomlinson have been able to maintain site progress whilst complying with Construction Leadership Council Site Operating Procedures.
The development include an eatery, convenience store and a further retail unit, plus 48 one and two-bedroom apartments, 25 per cent of which will be affordable and managed in partnership with Bromford Homes.
Richard Knight, technical director at IM Land, the strategic land arm of IM Properties, responsible for coordinating and working to deliver the residential element at BVP said:
“The neighbourhood centre and apartments will create a new hub for the community and is a crucial step towards seamlessly blending the residential with the existing commercial elements of Blythe Valley Park.
“It’s exciting to be able to shape a community from the ground up along with the infrastructure works that are ongoing to the public realm. We’re investing a huge amount of time in our placemaking strategy, looking at how the community will engage as a collective and with the wider neighbourhood.”
BVP, located at junction 4 of the M42, is surrounded by 122 acres of parkland and includes a mix of residential, commercial, industrial and leisure use.
Richard continued: “IM Properties has worked hard to create a thriving business community and new economic asset for the region at Blythe Valley Park, attracting many forward-thinking occupiers who identify with the park’s wellbeing agenda.
“The next stage is to connect the commercial element with the residential and complement the existing amenities on BVP, creating a new neighbourhood centre which will provide a focal point for the park, alongside the proposed play areas, public open spaces and walkways.”
The investment across BVP reflects IMP’s confidence in its strategic vision to create the first genuinely mixed-use, sustainable new community in the Midlands and a lasting legacy for future generations. Virtus Consult are acting as Quantity Surveyor for the development.
