Demolition of Mell Square car park has begun, the first step to 346 rental homes at Holbeche Place. What is going, where to park instead and what comes next.
Demolition has started at the Mell Square multi-storey car park in Solihull town centre. It is the first building work on Holbeche Place, the scheme that is meant to replace much of Mell Square with up to 1,600 homes.
The car park and the former petrol station on Warwick Road are coming down to clear the site for the first phase. That phase is 346 new build-to-rent homes, according to the developer, Muse, and Solihull Council, which both announced the start on 5 October (Muse, Solihull Council).
The first phase is backed by around £20 million from the West Midlands Combined Authority. The council and Muse have worked on the scheme together for three years.
What is being knocked down
Two things, both inside the phase 1 boundary:
- Mell Square multi-storey car park, which closed for good on 31 March 2026, together with the public toilets beside it
- the former petrol station on Warwick Road, which the council’s March notice named as MFG Brueton Park Service Station
The council’s notice in March said phase 1 would bring 346 homes across four residential blocks, plus shops, private amenity space for residents, car parking and landscaping (Solihull Council, 13 March 2026).
The same notice expected work to begin in June. The visible start has come four months later.
Shops stay open
Council leader Karen Grinsell said shops and businesses in Mell Square stay open throughout the demolition. “We will continue to work with retailers and partners to minimise disruption,” she said.
Muse’s development director, Lisa Turley, called it “the moment the transformation of Holbeche Place becomes real”.
Neither release gives a completion date for phase 1, a timetable for the demolition, or the hours the site will work.
Where to park now
With Mell Square gone, the council’s nearest alternatives are:
- Poplar Road car park, the former Marks and Spencer car park
- Lode Lane pay and display
- Dominion Court on Herbert Road
The council added 33 disabled bays across Poplar Road and Lode Lane when Mell Square shut, taking those two car parks to 62 disabled bays between them. Blue Badge holders park free all day in any council car park bay, not only the marked ones. The nearest public toilets, including a Changing Places toilet, are in The Core and Touchwood.
Prices and opening times for every town centre car park are on our parking in Solihull page.
What comes after phase 1
Holbeche Place is the new name for the Mell Square redevelopment. The council approved Muse’s masterplan for up to 1,600 homes, shops and public space in February 2026 (Muse, 9 February 2026). The name comes from the Holbeche family, who lived at Touchwood Hall on Drury Lane, inside the site, for more than 250 years.
Phase 2 was approved on 15 July 2026. It is 228 one and two-bedroom homes, all affordable, for rent at 20% below local market rents. They will be run by Habiko and built in a red-brick mansion-block style, with bay windows and balconies (Muse, 15 July 2026).
The masterplan also includes two new public spaces, Drury Gardens and Poplar Yard. Muse put the construction jobs at 170 net new posts.
Phases 1 and 2 together make 574 homes. That leaves about 1,026 of the masterplan’s 1,600 for later phases.
Why it matters for the Local Plan
Holbeche Place is the single biggest housing site in the town centre in the council’s draft Local Plan, which counts 1,600 homes at Mell Square. The draft plan went to Full Council on 6 October. Our Local Plan story explains what else is proposed and where.
What it means for you
- Driving into town. Mell Square car park is gone for good. Use Poplar Road, Lode Lane or Dominion Court.
- Blue Badge holders. Poplar Road and Lode Lane now have 62 disabled bays between them, and every council bay is free all day with a badge.
- Shopping in Mell Square. The shops are open as normal during demolition, according to the council.
- Looking for a home to rent. Phase 1 is build-to-rent and phase 2 is affordable rent at 20% below market. Neither has a letting date yet.
Sources
- Muse: Demolition marks start of landmark Holbeche Place redevelopment, 5 October 2026, and the photograph above.
- Solihull Council: Holbeche Place masterplan page, latest update 5 October 2026.
- Solihull Council: Major step forward for Holbeche Place as phase 1 starts in June, 13 March 2026.
- Muse releases of 9 February 2026 and 15 July 2026.
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