Chancellor hands £350m to West Midlands to kickstart 10-year plan

THE West Midlands is to build 215,000 new homes over the next decade after Chancellor Philip Hammond this week pledged £350 million to the region.

The deal will kickstart a wide range of housing projects across the region – including the 1,000-home Commonwealth Games athletes village at Perry Barr.

West Midlands Mayor Andy Street said: “As the centre of the UK’s economic growth, housing has been one of the key priorities for the West Midlands. There- fore the Housing Deal, announced by the Government, is a huge milestone for the West Midlands.”

The Chancellor said he is backing ambitious regions and councils which agree to deliver housing over and above their local need.