Blythe Valley Park
Blythe Valley Park is a district of the town of Solihull in the West Midlands conurbation. It is adjacent to Junction 4 of the M42 motorway, on the A34 Stratford Road between Solihull and Hockley Heath. The area was agricultural land administered by Sydenhale Farm until the late 1990s. After the death of the last landowner in 1984, the land was purchased by Solihull Council in preparation for development. The first phase of the project began in 1 and is now completed. There is further land for development in the future. The project is composed of two principal elements; a public park along the valley of the River Blythe and a business park. Because of the location of the site and its proximity to the motorway network and Birmingham Airport it was deemed prime land for office development. The development consists of large office blocks set in parkland. The most apparent element of the development is the Blythe Bridge over the M42, which stands out amongst the functionalist motorway architecture. Junction 4 of the M42 was remodelled and altered to allow for direct access from the motorway.
