£75 million to help West Midlands high streets bounce back from pandemic
More than £75 million of funding to revitalise high streets and help them bounce back from the pandemic has been confirmed for the West Midlands.
Wolverhampton, Walsall, and Stafford will all be given cash as part of the Government's £830m Future High Streets Fund.
Funding was previously confirmed for Brierley Hill and Kidderminster.
Ministers say the cash pot will "renew and re-shape" town centres by making them more attractive places to live, work and visit in the hope of halting their decline and helping them "bounce back".
The investment also forms part of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's pledge to "level up" parts of the country which have been left behind, particularly so-called former Labour "red wall" areas.
Wolverhampton will receive £15.7 million, Stafford £14.3 million and Walsall £11.4 million. A further £20.5m and £10m for Brierley Hill was confirmed in December.
It comes after Wolverhampton was awarded more cash through the Government's Towns Fund which will support the creation of an Arts Park as part of a Grand Theatre expansion.
The fresh cash will be put towards plans to pedestrianise large parts of the city centre. Victoria Street, Skinner Street, Salop Street and School Street and the area around the Civic Hall, which is currently being revamped, are all due to be made traffic free.
City council leader Ian Brookfield said: "I've always said I'll fight for every penny that's out there. We're grateful for any money we receive, whether it's Government or regional.
Destination
"It will make a difference in the city centre. We do want to change the city economy so we've got a city centre which is a destination place, which has got the right entertainment facilities, restaurants, eateries and leisure facilities.
"The public will see the benefits once the Civic Hall reopens. It will look absolutely fantastic."
Councillor Brookfield said the Government's "levelling up" agenda was only making up for what had been cut during a decade of austerity.
He added: "If they want to level up against London and the South East we will be looking for more."
Walsall Council leader Mike Bird welcomed the investment and said: "High streets, not only ours but across the country, need some rejuvenating and this will help some way towards it.
"I hope we will see some renaissance of town centres."
Stafford Borough Council leader Patrick Farrington said: "This is excellent news. Yet again the Government has recognised the role we have played in attracting major investment to the borough - and has now backed that with this proposal for substantial funding for our high street plans."
Local Growth Minister Luke Hall said: “Over £146 million from the Future High Streets Fund for towns in the West Midlands will create new opportunities for people living in the region.
“This funding will help ensure areas across the West Midlands remain great places to live, work and visit.”
