Plans are underway to introduce a new food outlet and two leisure venues to the Gracechurch Centre in Sutton Coldfield before the end of the year, alongside confirming the site’s first residential development.
Councillor David Pears (Sutton Trinity, Conservative) revealed that the centre’s owners have submitted a planning application to merge the existing Ryman’s stationery shop with the adjacent Toys 4 You store to form a single unit facing The Parade. While paperwork is still being finalised, this combined unit is expected to become a new Tesco convenience store. It is understood that Ryman will relocate to the former Mini Me play centre premises, with Toys 4 You moving into a site previously occupied by retailer D&H.
In addition to the new food outlet, the centre will soon feature an “exciting new climbing wall centre,” which is believed to be a Clip ‘n Climb venue situated in the former Bodyshop unit. Signage in the nearby former Bodycare unit promotes “Family entertainment coming soon” and “Fun is on the way.” Clip ‘n Climb currently operates 11 UK Premier sites and around 25 franchise locations, although none are yet present in the West Midlands; the nearest branch is in Stoke-on-Trent.
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Councillor Pears also confirmed upcoming developments on the sports front. A bowling facility, likely located in the former Argos store-which has housed various retailers including a hot tub seller and a homeware shop-should open by Christmas. Additionally, new padel tennis courts are planned for the top level of the centre’s car park and are expected to launch in Spring 2027. The bowling alley will potentially be managed by Lane7, which runs venues across the UK and internationally, including in Birmingham’s Bullring and Cube shopping centres, as well as locations in Berlin and Dublin.
Looking ahead, the owners are considering providing a pedestrian link between the Gracechurch Centre and the new Aldi store, projected over the next three to five years.
Significantly, Plantsbrook House, an office block at the Birmingham Road end of the centre, is slated to be converted into 25 flats. This marks the first residential development on the site and represents a scaled-back plan compared to earlier proposals for larger high-rise apartment blocks that would have drastically altered the centre.
Ross Symonov of SAV Group, one of the co-owners of the Gracechurch Centre alongside Birmingham Property Group (BPG), emphasised the focus on leisure rather than traditional retail. He said: “Our strategy is entertainment, expanding further entertainment offers beyond just bowling. We expect to close around five to six deals within the next six months across the centre.”
While no deals have yet been signed, various negotiations are underway. Regarding the residential plans, Symonov confirmed the intent to submit a planning application to convert Plantsbrook House into a serviced-apartments building, although no such application has been filed yet.
These developments underscore the centre’s evolving role as a mixed-use destination aimed at boosting leisure and residential opportunities in Sutton Coldfield.