On November 10, the NEC announced its Masterplan for the development of an urban village on 27 hectares of brownfield land around the National Exhibition Centre that is currently surplus or used for parking.  The proposed development includes 5,000 homes, a primary school, a new hotel, cafes, restaurants and offices.  The NEC Group state that the proposals would create about 3,500 jobs and “make a major contribution to meeting housing needs”.  The development would connect the site to the Arden Cross development and the HS2 interchange station.

Birmingham City Council, which owns the land, have urged people to give their views during a six-week public consultation that is due to end on 24 December 2021.  The plans can be viewed and comments made at www.necgroup.co.uk/masterplan/.