Progress and next steps
In addition to active project delivery and partnership building, the East Birmingham Programme has worked to raise the profile of East Birmingham and secure national and regional government support.
In 2022, the council proposed that East Birmingham and North Solihull (EBNS) should be established as a Levelling Up Zone (LUZ).This is a special priority area with the core principle being to:
- maximise investment
- encourage the greatest possible benefit for the local community and its economy
The LUZ emphasised the need to co-ordinate investment into sites and infrastructure and to proactively link this activity with improvements to public services, linking fully with the East Birmingham Inclusive Growth Strategy and subsequent developments.
The council formally asked the West Midlands Mayor to make the EBNS LUZ a centrepiece of the devolution deal, and worked with Solihull MBC and West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) to develop and refine the concept.
EBNS has been recognised by WMCA and government as a priority area for regeneration, which is expected to benefit from prioritised access to funding through the WMCA Integrated Settlement funding package. This will follow the devolution deal.
After an intensive period of engagement and negotiation with government, 2 major areas of East Birmingham were formally designated in 2024, which will support EBNS. These are:
- Birmingham Knowledge Quarter (B-KQ) Investment Zone site
- EBNS Growth Zone
The EBNS Growth Zone provides the council with business rate retention for 25 years. This allows us to reinvest the business rates it collects back into the local area.
This is similar to the existing enterprise zone that has been an important factor in the economic growth of Birmingham City Centre.
The Growth Zone is cross-boundary and covers key development sites within East Birmingham and North Solihull.
The Birmingham element of the West Midlands Investment Zone comprises the Birmingham Knowledge Quarter (B-KQ). This is also located within EBNS and includes:
- tax relief sites
- flexible funding (via grant) access
- business rate retention for 25 years
East Birmingham is now also the focus of investment company, Knighthead’s, Sports Quarter proposals, which include creating a new home for Birmingham City Football Club. Linked to this, the government has announced £400 million funding for the first phase of the EBNS Metro and improvements to Adderley Park Station.
Download EBNS inclusive growth area map
Next steps
In December 2024, Birmingham City Council and Solihull Council agreed the EBNS Strategy which sets our shared principles and objectives for the East Birmingham and North Solihull (EBNS) area.
The approach focuses on tackling the issues faced by local people in an integrated way.
Birmingham City Council agreed that work would continue to maximise the opportunity presented by the Growth Zone and Investment Zone designations, in parallel with major investment from:
- the HS2 programme and the Birmingham City Centre Enterprise Zone
- The Sports Quarter
- other investments such, as the West Midlands Rail Hub
These will deliver transformational change.
Linking job creation, housing delivery, and investment in connectivity
With a holistic, multi-agency approach to service improvement, and building on the assets, capacity, and learning produced by the East Birmingham Programme, the council can realise the immense growth potential of EBNS.
This will involve development of a strong, functioning local economy, and creating new jobs in growth sectors such as:
- green and digital technology
- improving access to existing jobs
- enabling healthy business and enterprise growth
Work is now underway to agree new delivery and governance arrangements to enable inclusive growth delivery in East Birmingham to move forward at a greater scale and pace:
- accelerating physical redevelopment
- addressing the wider system
- directly linking growth and investment with local people – to avoid the risk that vulnerable communities would be left behind by growth, deepening the disparities between them and wealthier parts of the city.
Page last updated: 10 October 2025
