Sandwell Council submits major regeneration plans to government

Major regeneration plans have been submitted to the government by Sandwell Council - including new roads, urban greening and new education centres.

Plans under the Towns Fund deal were sent on Thursday (March 24), after the Labour-led local authority, and other local organisations, successfully applied for £67.5 million of investment funding last March.

Rowley Regis is set to receive £19 million, Smethwick £23.5 million and West Bromwich £25 million.

The government has already approved three projects including the ‘Digital Den’, located at Woods Lane community centre, in West Bromwich, to support children, adults, and older people, to get online and improve access to jobs.

Sandwell civil and mechanical engineering centre, a new technical campus on West Bromwich high street, and an ‘urban greening’ project to improve existing green spaces in West Bromwich were also approved.

What are the regeneration projects?

The 13 projects being submitted for approval are as follows:

West Bromwich Town Hall Quarter Project

Retail Diversification Programme, West Bromwich

West Bromwich Connected

Ron Davis Centre Expansion, Smethwick

Midland Met Learning Campus, Smethwick

Grove Lane Regeneration, Smethwick

Rolfe Street Canalside Regeneration, Smethwick

Smethwick Connected

Britannia Park Community Hub, Rowley Regis

Canal Network Connectivity, Rowley Regis

Rowley Regis Satellite Education Hub

Blackheath Bus Interchange and Public Realm, Rowley Regis

Rowley Regis Connected

Funding is subject to full project business plans being approved.

What has Sandwell Council said about the plans in their own words?

Councillor Iqbal Padda, Sandwell council’s cabinet member for regeneration and growth, said: “This is an exciting moment as, together with our partners, we submit the final plans for our Towns Fund programme. We also welcome the government’s approval of the first three projects and are delighted work has started on these.

“All 16 projects will make a real difference to our communities and I would like to thank everyone involved in developing these plans to secure this much-needed investment.

“There are a wide range of regeneration initiatives and they all have one thing in common – improving local people’s lives.

“We can’t wait to deliver these projects and look forward to hearing from the government in the summer on the 13 plans we’re submitting this week.”

Jude Thompson, chair of the Towns Fund Superboard, said: “It has been a great pleasure to work with, and continue to work with, everyone involved – from the local board chairs, representatives of Sandwell council and the project teams. I’m extremely proud that these projects are moving ahead to the next stage.

“This is an amazing opportunity for everyone involved to help shape the local area for the future. These projects will make a difference to so many local people’s lives and can only be a good thing for our local communities.”

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