The UK Central Hub Solihull including Arden Cross and the NEC
The Hub sits at the centre of the UK’s transportation network and is unique in offering development opportunities which benefit from unrivalled connectivity. With the arrival of high speed rail and with major investment in local transport infrastructure, The Hub will become Europe’s best- connected destination for business, leisure and living, a new and outstanding gateway unlike any other in the UK.
OPPORTUNITY
The Hub is a 1,300 hectare area of land in Solihull, just off Junction 6 of the M42 motorway. It is home to Birmingham Airport, the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham International Station, Birmingham Business Park, Jaguar Land Rover and the 140 hectare Arden Cross development site which will be the location of the new HS2 Interchange Station.
Promoter: The Urban Growth Company on behalf of Solihull Council signposting to Arden Cross Ltd and the NEC Group as relevant
Scale: £3bn+ GDV
Sector: Mixed-use: infrastructure, commercial, healthcare and residential
Location: Solihull
Investment Type: Long-term equity investor, large-scale development funder and operational partner (property, utilities and infrastructure)
Programme: Phase One (up to 2026) Phase Two (2026–2030) Phase Three (2030 onwards)
Planning Status: Proposed for development in Solihull Council Local Plan
Website: www.ugcsolihull.uk
BACKGROUND
There are opportunities for long-term equity investors, large-scale development funders and operational partners interested in infrastructure, energy, transport and large-scale, mixed-use development.
The two most significant and immediate opportunities are at Arden Cross and at the NEC.
DESCRIPTION
Arden Cross: A key element of The Hub and the location of the HS2 Interchange Station, it covers 140 hectares of land with the opportunity to deliver 558,000m² of commercial space, up to 3,000 new homes and support 27,000 jobs. The realisation of this 25 year, £3 billion development project has the backing of local and national government with a commitment to fund local infrastructure to facilitate future development. Muse Places Ltd are preferred development partner with potential for early phases of development from 2025, well ahead of HS2 delivery into service.
NEC Campus: The vision for the NEC Campus is to create a unique environment for living, supported by new space for working and leisure. A new Urban Village of over 5,000 homes will create a new and highly sustainable community of over 11,000 people living in a mature and green landscape. A new Grand Plaza and Urban Boulevard will act as catalysts for further commercial, leisure, retail and tourism development, alongside new public realm. The process to secure a development partner will commence within 12 months following a period of consultation and incorporation of responses to the masterplan.
Across The Hub, the Urban Growth Company (UGC) is delivering a number of strategic infrastructure priority projects including additional and improved transport infrastructure around the HS2 Interchange Station site; future-proofing the supply of energy; upgrading the local and strategic highways network; and a car parking strategy to make the best use of existing and planned parking spaces.
The UGC also has a medium-term objective to transform Birmingham International Station on the West Coast Mainline, creating a worldleading, multi-modal transport exchange, seamlessly connecting the HS2 Interchange Station, the NEC, Birmingham International Station and Birmingham Airport as well as passengers travelling from outside The Hub. More immediately, the UGC is exploring commercial development and public realm opportunities on 28,000m² of land adjacent to the station, in anticipation of its future transformation.
PROMOTER AND PARTNERSHIPS
The UGC is a local, special-purpose delivery vehicle established and wholly owned by Solihull Council and supported by West Midlands Combined Authority. The UGC oversees and coordinates investment into the UK Central Hub in order to fully maximise the economic opportunities associated with the arrival of high speed rail. Approximately £65m of public investment has been secured in UK Central Hub by UGC and Solihull Council over the past four years, out of a planned programme of almost £400m. This is in addition to investment by partners including HS2, Birmingham Airport, NEC, Birmingham Business Park, National Highways and Jaguar Land Rover.
The Arden Cross masterplan is being delivered by Arden Cross Ltd, a delivery vehicle created by landowners Birmingham City Council, Coleshill Estate and Packington Estate. These landowners and development partner Muse are committed to a shared vision of building a world-class, smart and connected destination at The Hub in the heart of the Midlands.
The NEC Group and Birmingham City Council, as landowners, are working in partnership to unlock the opportunities outlined in the NEC Campus masterplan.
LOCATION
The UK Central Hub in Solihull is at the heart of the UK’s transport network, offering development opportunities that have direct access to the national rail network, future high speed rail, Birmingham Airport and the Motorway network. It is also home to world-class assets such as the National Exhibition Centre and major international businesses including Jaguar Land Rover, Rolls Royce and Fujitsu.