Express & Star

£30m to revamp J10 of the M6

A congestion-busting £30 million scheme is planned to expand Junction 10 of the M6 as part of £450m of projects for the West Midlands  under the Government's new Growth Deal.

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The project will free up the major gateway route into Walsall, as well as making it easier and quicker for firms in the town to get their goods and products out into the rest of the country.

Almost entirely funded from central Government, the £29.95 million programme will see new wider bridges built over the motorway, making it more able to cope with the huge amount of traffic moving onto and off of the M6 and crossing from one side of the motorway to the other.

It is also seen as key to developing the Darlaston Black Country Enterprise Zone and a pair of regeneration corridors planned for the area.

At the same time Government cash will clean up the Bentley Lane development site in Walsall, creating 11 hectares of employment land with improved roads. It is expected the money will help lead to £40 million of private sector development at the site from an un-named developer planning 'significant business expansion'.

This is expected to be around 400,000 sq ft creating 245 jobs.

Another £28 million will be invested in the Goscote Lane Corridor, in Blakenall, Walsall. Badged as a 'regeneration area' the money will be spent on three linked brownfield sites and will lead to the building of 735 houses over 21 hectares.

The Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership says there is evidence of 'strong market interest' in the site once it is cleaned up.

Meanwhile two Walsall training companies, In-Comm and PTP, will play a crucial role in efforts to expand the range of skills and manufacturing equipment available to local companies.

Growth Fund investment will go to pay for a range of hi-tech manufacturing equipment, while the two training firms will also provide computer-controlled CNC machinery and the training required by businesses in the area.

The Black Country and Staffordshire will receive £221m of the £450m promised to the West Midlands. Read about the grant here.

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