NEC masterplan could bring 10,000 jobs and 2,500 homes

Ambitious plans to transform the National Exhibition Centre campus could create up to 10,000 jobs and 2,500 new homes, under a masterplan unveiled by Birmingham City Council and the NEC Group.

The NEC Masterplan, launched on 5 November, sets out plans to redevelop 75 hectares of land at the site near Birmingham Airport, creating 315,000 square metres of new floor space.

Seven million visitors a year

The NEC campus is home to the exhibition centre itself, its sister venue the Genting Arena, the Resorts World Birmingham leisure complex and the newly opened Bear Grylls Adventure attraction, run by Merlin Entertainments. Together they attract more than seven million visitors a year.

The NEC Group has recently been sold to private equity funds managed by Blackstone. When the council sold the NEC Group in 2015, it kept the freehold of the land at the site, and the masterplan reflects a shared vision between the council as landowner and the group as operator.

The council's cabinet will be asked to endorse the masterplan at its meeting on 13 November.

"A radical vision"

Council leader Ian Ward said: "I am delighted to launch this Masterplan which sets out a radical vision for the transformation of the NEC campus which will not only see the Midlands International appeal and global position strengthened but also bring huge economic benefits to our local communities."

Waheed Nazir, the council's corporate director for economy, said the campus could accommodate major commercial, residential and leisure uses that would complement the council's plans in the city centre at Curzon and Smithfield.

Paul Thandi, chief executive of the NEC Group, said: "With the backing of our new majority shareholder, Blackstone, we have ambitious plans to develop our business further. The Masterplan is an important element of that expansion."

A growth hub

Although the site belongs to Birmingham, it lies in Solihull, and the plans form part of Solihull's UK Central Hub, an area identified for major growth around the airport, Birmingham International station, Jaguar Land Rover's Solihull plant and the planned HS2 Interchange station.

Councillor Bob Sleigh, leader of Solihull Council, welcomed the plans as a key part of the vision for the area to become one of the best-connected places in Europe for business, leisure and living.

Changes already under way

The NEC Group has already announced an £8.5 million transformation of the campus, with digital displays and a new look for the outside of the exhibition halls that can be lit up at night. A 224-bedroom Moxy hotel is under construction and is due to open in the middle of next year.

The group runs five of the country's leading venues: the NEC, the International Convention Centre, the Genting Arena, Arena Birmingham and the Vox Conference Centre. It also owns the Ticket Factory ticketing agency.

The NEC opened in 1976 and has hosted everything from the Crufts dog show to major concerts. If the masterplan goes ahead, the campus could become a place where people live and work as well as visit.