Shirley, West Midlands

infobox UK place
country = England
map_type= West Midlands
latitude= 52.409
longitude= -1.823
population=
official_name= Shirley
metropolitan_borough= Solihull
region= West Midlands
metropolitan_county= West Midlands
constituency_westminster=
post_town=
postcode_district =
postcode_area=
dial_code=
os_grid_reference= SP120790 Shirley is a district of the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull, in the county of West Midlands, England.

It is a residential and shopping neighbourhood.

There are many shops and businesses in the area, many along the Stratford Road. Shirley has a high proportion of independent retailers and charity stores. A pedestrianisation of the high street encouraged the eateries to have outside dining.

Currently, the 'New Heart for Shirley' plan to develop 1.43 acres (4%) of Shirley Park, [ [http://www.shirleyadvance.com/ Shirley Advance] ] to build a new shopping complex, with twenty new shops including an Asda supermarket as its flagship store, residential apartments, cafés, restaurants and new public areas. This plan came under much local criticism, but has now been given the go ahead by the local authority.

To the south of the high street (Stratford Road, A34) is a large retail park including many car dealerships such as BMW, Audi, Land Rover, and Jaguar.

In the area are many schools. The main secondary school is Light Hall School. A section of the school burnt down in 2005 and is currently being re-built. The primary schools include Our Lady of the Wayside, Mill Lodge, Peterbrook, Haslucks Green, St. James and Shirley Heath.

There are train services to Birmingham Moor Street station, Birmingham Snow Hill station and on to Stourbridge Junction in one direction and to Henley in Arden and Stratford-upon-Avon in the other direction from Shirley railway station [ [http://www.livedepartureboards.co.uk/ldb/summary.aspx?T=SRL National Rail timetable for Shirley] ] which is located in Haslucks Green Road. [ [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/index.html?a=findStation&station_query=SRL National Rail information for Shirley] ] Shirley is also served by a bus service with buses along the Stratford Road travelling to and from Solihull and Birmingham City Centre.

References