Government Report endorses Black Country plans for long term regeneration

Released: 10 September 2007

Today the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Hazel Blears, published a Government Report which supports the future plans for transformation of the Black Country which will see new homes, more jobs, better shopping and above all a better environment for over 1million people who live in the Black Country.

Four years ago the Leaders of the four Black Country Local Authorities – Wolverhampton, Walsall, Sandwell and Dudley made a historic decision to work together  ‘Four as One’ to shape a better future for the Black Country, its communities and its businesses as the Black Country Consortium, a public/private partnership working with communities, businesses and government agencies.

A groundbreaking joint study  - known as the Black Country Study was commissioned led by the Black Country Consortium working jointly with the West Midlands Regional Assembly, the regional planning body.

Government has today endorsed the proposals of that Black Country Study that will see the provision of greater choice of homes, more jobs, stronger business opportunities supported by better public transport and radical improvements in our living environment. The future Black Country will see growth focused on four strategic centres in the Black Country and along public transport corridors.

The future of the Black Country will be a rich mix of historic and new communities with access to all Black Country Centres for shopping, leisure and work. Wolverhampton City Centre, Walsall and West Bromwich Town Centres will be transformed.

Today’s announcement by the Government is a historic one for the Black Country and the West Midlands as the existing centres will now be joined officially by Brierley Hill as a new strategic centre, enabling plans to go ahead for more shops, leisure facilities, offices and housing to be built linking together Merry Hill, the Waterfront and Brierley Hill High Street as one Centre focused on canal environment and proposed new Metro.

The existing town centre of Dudley is destined for an exciting new role as a regional tourism destination and focus for new homes making the most of its historic and cultural heritage.

Jobs will also be provided for by improvements in land, buildings and transport in four extensive ‘employment land corridors’.

A network of quality public transport routes will be developed, building on the existing rail and Metro together with new approaches to bus transport, linking people with jobs and the Black Country network of Centres. These routes will be the focus for the provision of new homes and enhanced residential areas creating a much greater variety of choice of homes and living environments for Black Country people of today and tomorrow. New homes will also be built in around Black Country centres. Crucially, transformation of the environment will drive the future Black Country using the Black Country heritage of canals and nature reserves (the positive legacy of the industrial heyday).

The report has been welcomed by the West Midlands Regional Assembly and the Black Country Consortium.

Councillor Rex Roberts, Chair of the West Midlands Regional Assembly’s Regional Planning Partnership was particularly pleased that the Government report reflected all the hard work undertaken by the Consortium working in partnership with the Assembly. He said: “This report is great news for the Region. It supports our aspirations for regenerating the Black Country and confirms that we’re moving in the right direction. A successful Black Country is essential for the West Midlands future prosperity - ultimately, the conclusions will be critical for delivering a major environmental and economic transformation.”

Councillor Roger Lawrence, Leader of Wolverhampton City Council said:

“ We see this report as a significant breakthrough for the renaissance of the Black Country, as conformation that Government are supporting our ambitious plans on which we have worked so hard together through our Black Country partnership over the last four years. Our objectives to be home to more people with better job opportunities and better incomes, living in a ‘green’ environment are acknowledged. Government is supporting our radical proposals to accommodate growth through the creation of new places for living with more attractive environments with better access to public transport and greenspace – the Black Country as an Urban Park.

We are delighted that the report supports our Black Country vision of growth based on our Black Country city and town centres operating as a network for the benefit of all Black Country citizens. Particularly exciting is the Government’s recognition of the strategic importance of Brierley Hill as a key centre for growth in the Black Country.”

Sarah Middleton, Chief Executive of the Black Country Consortium said

“This is a vote of confidence in the Black Country and gives us a real lever for our future aspirations. This report gives confidence to developers and the private sector about the long-term future and economic performance of the Black Country.”

The Black Country Consortium welcomes the proposals for introducing a wider and more explicit environment policy for the Black Country including the development of a ‘green infrastructure strategy’ on which discussions with Natural England and other environmental agencies are already taking place as part of the development of an overall Landscape Action Plan.

A key component in the environmental transformation of the Black Country is the proposal to develop the whole area as an Urban Park. Progress on the first five to ten year programme for the Park is already well underway as part of the region’s bid for £50million of lottery funding as one of only six community projects selected nationally. If successful in October, the Project – part of a £100m programme of environmental transformation – will be subject to a TV vote to determine who gets the £50m Lottery funding. The Vote will take place week beginning 3rd December and Black Country Consortium urge people to seize this one off opportunity and pledge their support for the Black Country by visiting the new website – www.blackcountryup.co.uk

The Government’s report will become the Phase 1 Revision to the existing
Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS), which sets out the planning framework for the whole West Midlands Region.

The Government are inviting comments on the proposed changes to the RSS with the launch today of an eight week public consultation ending on November 9th.  Their final report is expected to be published by the end of the year, when the proposed changes will become statutory.

For further information, visit www.blackcountryconsortium.co.uk

Issued on behalf of the Black Country Consortium Limited.