Major push to build 210,000 new homes across region
THE West Midlands could see a massive boost to house-building to help it deliver an estimated 210,000 new homes.
Chancellor Philip Hammond announced that the region would be the first in the UK to get a second devolution deal agreed, with a focus very much on housing.
As well as a £6 million pot to establish a taskforce to plan for the rapid expansion of housing, there was also £5 million investment in training for the next generation of construction workers to ensure locals secure the building jobs.
In a further boost it was confirmed the West Midlands would be one of three pilot areas sharing £28 million to develop the Housing First scheme, which experts predict could make a massive impact towards eradicating rough sleeping completely by 2027. There was further support for transport across the region, including a £250 million transport package, which included the Midlands Metro extension to Brierley Hill, which was announced before the budget.
Further funding was also awarded to support the West Midlands Combined Authority’s (WMCA) work on mental health services.
The deal has been negotiated between the government and Mayor Andy Street over the last four months.
Mr Street greeted the new devolution deal as a sign of confidence in the region from government.
He said: “It was never going to be as large a cash sum as the first devolution deal. But we are seeing the combined authority and mayor being given more support and more investment.
“It is really, really encouraging and it reflects the growing impact of the housing agenda and reflects the impact of new technology which is so important for our economy.”
Further announcements included:
The region to be the UK centre for Driverless car technology – bolstered by £5 million for a 5G trial, to test innovative roadside connectivity.
Funding for NHS projects including: the Russell’s Hall Hospital, Dud- ley Urgent Care Centre scheme, the Birmingham Children’s Hospital emergency department scheme and the South Warwickshire Out of Hospital Care scheme (Coventry and Warwickshire).
Birmingham will become a Tech Hub, supporting businesses and skills in the area to prosper. This is part of a national expansion of ‘Tech City’, with the region receiving a share of £21 million to support this. The result of a £500 million bid for housing in the West Midlands, topped by the 4,700 home scheme being planned at Perry Barr, is expected to be announced early in the New Year. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond, said: “The investments I have announced today back the West Midlands with a significant cash boost for transport improvements to connect people to jobs and make journeys quicker for everybody right across the region.”
While there was a boost for transport, housing, skills and economic development, there was no mention of help for Birmingham’s underpressure public services – education, social care and police – despite calls.
Six Birmingham Labour MPs had delivered a plea to the Chancellor to rectify a historic inequity in Birmingham City Council’s budget and restore £100 million to its annual grant, especially as the city is facing a massive funding crisis.
And both West Midlands Police Commissioner David Jamieson and city head teachers had made the case for few cuts to their budgets, but there was no response in the budget.
Detail on local government, education and police funding for 2018/19 is expected to emerge in the coming weeks.
Unison West Midlands regional secretary Ravi Subramanian said: “Dedicated public service employees deserve so much more than pats on the back.
“It’s time they and the hospitals, schools and councils they work for saw the colour of the Chancellor’s money. It’s time for the government to pay up now.”
It is really, really encouraging and it reflects the growing impact of the housing agenda Mayor Andy Street