A new masterplan for a 'once in a generation' massive multi billion development is set to come forward, councillors have been told.

The huge regeneration of the 340-acre Arden Cross site, located just over a mile east of Birmingham Airport – has been in the pipeline for years with £3.2 billion expected to be ploughed into the area.

The site is located near to the NEC campus, Birmingham Airport and Birmingham International railway station.

And it is key to helping the authority reach government targets to build new homes, with a previous 2021 masterplan aiming for the site to have up to 3,000 new homes.

In the summer it was confirmed by the Department for Transport development land around the HS2 Interchange Station will be available from 2030.

Arden Cross was raised at various points during the economic development, managed growth and skills scrutiny board meeting on September 29 examining Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council's (SMBC) new draft local plan.

The authority's new local plan – which would act as a development blueprint up to 2043 if it goes on to be adopted – says: "At this stage it is considered prudent to continue to acknowledge that the residential component of the development will not be completed within the plan period, and for land supply purposes a total of 1,600 is considered a reasonable expectation within the plan period, and this would be in the later years."

At the meeting Cllr Max McLoughlin said: "When we are talking about sustainable locations, that has the best connectivity anywhere but I realise that also then makes it attractive.

"Will we have a most up-to-date, coherent masterplan for the entirety of that site because there have been so many changes in government policy and in terms of site promoters.

"I think that's going to be really important for when we get to that being examined and passed by the inspector."

Officer Perry Wardle, the council's director of economy and infrastructure, replied: "Since the last masterplan was produced there has been a lot of change, the most significant probably being around confirmation of timing of land release.

"There'll be a further masterplan iteration that will come forward via Arden Cross, but I think it is hopefully reassuring to members to understand there is already a legal arrangement in place between all parties."

During discussions on having infrastructure in place before building of homes across the borough, the officer also highlighted the ambitious site.

"We forget we are doing this sometimes, but we are already providing infrastructure in advance of developments," he said.

"We have already expanded the capacity of the roundabout over the trace at Arden Cross.

"If we hadn't done that then the numbers attached to the housing proposals in this local plan could not be delivered."

As the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) reported last month Arden Cross has been suggested by Birmingham City Football Club fans as an ideal location for the club's planned 80 acre site to house training facilities for its men's, women's and academy teams as well as a 10,000 capacity stadium for club's women's team.

SMBC's leader told the LDRS no talks had taken place with the club, adding it is now the time for any interested parties to step forward.