In 2001, the practice was commissioned to prepare a design brief for the redevelopment of an existing British Gas site within Solihull borough. This involved establishing a completely new urban structure over several hectares, creating new links across an area which had previously been closed to the public, and opening up a considerable length of new canal frontage for public use. The brief designated the area a new local centre, providing a mix of uses and a density higher than the existing surrounding area so as to create a new urban focus for the locality. The masterplan brief for the redevelopment of the site set key design criteria for the urban form and the buildings so as to establish a new local centre to the north of the town.