A Birmingham-based property developer has launched a new company aimed at breathing life into the high streets of commuter towns and small cities.
Sam Ginda is joint chief executive of Taylor Grange which is behind a string of schemes across Birmingham city centre including a 37-storey serviced apartment block at 211 Broad Street.
His new venture is called Future High Street Living which will focus on supporting high streets in need of regeneration by bringing forward schemes that will help boost footfall and create jobs.
Its first project will see Mr Ginda work to revamp the Queens Square Shopping Centre in his home town of West Bromwich.
It is currently 40 per cent occupied so Mr Ginda's investment will see the retail provision consolidated into one area alongside a residential development of around 285 houses and apartments and improvements to the public realm.
The adjacent Bull Street car park has been pulled down.
Mr Ginda said: "Having grown up in West Bromwich, I feel so passionately about doing my part to help an area that's in real need of regeneration and I couldn't bear to see how this part of the town centre has declined over the past years.
"Introducing new homes close to local transport links will create a thriving, sustainable community that encourages people to spend time here.
"Furthermore, developing unused retail space into housing could be a great way of repopulating our high streets from a social standpoint while also delivering some sorely needed housing stock to the market.
"The terms proposed we believe not only protect the council's interest but in addition will see financial gain for Sandwell Council through bringing this large development forward."
He added: "The coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated the retail crisis and it's incredibly sad to see the demise of the high street hastened, with many big names shutting their doors for good.
"Urgent action is needed to reinvigorate these areas that were once at the heart of local communities.
"Future High Street Living is all about bringing struggling high streets back to life by investing in developments that will introduce new housing and new reasons to visit these areas yet again."
