Transport plans for West Midlands have 'captured Government’s imagination', Mayor claims

Richard Parker hailed billions of pounds of funding made in announcements this week at a meeting of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) board on Friday (June 13).

Last week, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced £2.4 billion capital funding to be spent on transport projects with the first to benefit being an extension of the Metro from Birmingham city centre to the ambitious £3 billion Sports Quarter project in Bordesley.

The tram will then be expanded to go onwards to East Birmingham and North Solihull up to the airport.

Birmingham City Football Club’s Sports Quarter proposals include a new 60,000-seater stadium at the former Wheels site, sports campus of training facilities, a new academy, community pitches as well as leisure, commercial and residential development.

At the WMCA Board meeting, Mr Parker also welcomed this week’s Spending Review which includes money for more affordable and social housing as well as funding for the next stage of developing the £1.75 billion Midland Rail Hub.

He said: “(I am very pleased with) the Government’s support for extending the Metro from the City Centre in Birmingham to the new Sports Quarter where Knighthead Capital are going to be investing up to £3 billion unlocking opportunities for some of the most deprived communities across the West Midlands.

“And their support in the long and medium term for extending that Metro link through East Birmingham and North Solihull through Arden Cross to the airport.

“It is an important part of that project which has captured the Government’s imagination.

“In addition to that support for transport, we will be undertaking further work on the additional sums coming to the region, particularly housing funding, which the chancellor announced which totals £39 billion over the next 10 years.

“I will work to ensure we demonstrate our ability to deliver and attract as much as that funding into this region as possible.”