The Midlands is one of the biggest beneficiaries of the upcoming high-speed railway line (HS2), and the Solihull property market could be in for a boost as regeneration takes effect.
The new Interchange Station close to the large market town of Solihull and Birmingham airport will be a hugely important stopping point on the route between London and the north of England as the HS2 train route progresses.
The station has already made headlines after it became the first railway station in the world to achieve BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ status. This certificate is awarded based on the sustainability of a building, with ‘Outstanding’ being the top award and putting it in the top 1% of UK buildings.
Interchange Station was recognised for its eco-friendly features, including maximising natural daylight and ventilation, a station roof design that can capture and reuse rainwater, and features to enable net zero carbon emissions from day-to-day energy consumption.
In the area surrounding the station, regeneration is already taking place, including increasing housing levels and infrastructure improvements. For the Solihull property market and areas close by, this is already adding to the appeal of the location.
Solihull property on the up
Down the road from the new Interchange Station in Birmingham, the major Midlands city has been (and currently is) a hive of activity as it prepares to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games. This additional investment is further enhancing the interest surrounding the future HS2 line.
While the property market in Birmingham is particularly buoyant right now, property investors seeking areas with forward-planned investment are honing in on up-and-coming hotspots. This is where Solihull property is expected to see demand creep up as HS2 progresses.
According to Purplebricks, Solihull is already seeing an increase in interest from buyers.
Purplebricks local property partner Phil Gould says: “B93 will remain a popular postcode as properties fall within the catchment for Arden School. The same is true of B91, which is in the catchment for Tudor Grange.
“Postcodes which are likely to grow in popularity include B90 and B47. There are lots of new-build properties here which seems to bring an influx of buyers to these postcodes.”
HS2 driving growth
One of the key benefits of the new high-speed railway line is the inward investment it is creating, and the growth in the locations surrounding the new stations.
The Urban Growth Company, on behalf of Solihull Council, aims to support the creation of 70,000 new and safeguarded jobs, up to 5,000 homes and 650,000 square metres of commercial space. It is also estimated that it will add £6.2bn GVA per annum to the economy.
According to data from HS2, inward investment has created more jobs in the West Midlands than in any other region outside London. The West Midlands Combined Authority’s HS2 Growth Strategy has the potential to add £14 billion to the regional economy and support 100,000 jobs.
HS2 is working with Solihull Council, West Midlands Combined Authority and regional stakeholders to ensure that the region benefits from the full potential of HS2.
Creating an ideal location
The new Interchange Station near Solihull will provide several key benefits. There will be up to five trains per hour in each direction, with four platform sides for trains to stop at and two 415 metre-long platforms.
Journey times to other parts of the UK will be significantly reduced. For example, the journey from the Interchange to East Midlands Hub will be just 17 minutes. Manchester will be 37 minutes away (reduced from 106), while London will be 38 minutes away (down from 70).
Aside from its easy access to other parts of the country, the station will boost the appeal of Solihull property by being a destination in itself. There will be a focus on green space around the station to add to its eco-friendly credentials.
HS2 adds: “The strategy for the site has been developed to reflect the surrounding Arden landscape character. Trees and hedgerows will be retained where possible, and tree planting is proposed to provide screening along the edge of the site.”
BuyAssociation has an exciting new project launching for prospective Solihull property investors just 11 minutes from the new Interchange Station. Located on one of the area’s biggest parks, it is ideally situated for easy access to Birmingham and the airport, too.
Apply for a pre-launch pack here, or get in touch for more information on that and our other property investment opportunities.
