Birmingham signs up to West Midlands Growth Plan
The West Midlands Growth Plan has been launched by the regional mayor alongside local authority leaders.
Birmingham City Council leader Cllr John Cotton attended the launch and signed up to the plan that will drive a new era of prosperity in all parts of the region by creating 100,000 good jobs in fast-growing industries, getting tens of thousands of residents into work, improving public transport, and building 120,000 homes.
The plan also sets out actions to reduce poverty and deprivation and make further progress towards net zero.
Cllr Cotton said: "This is great news for the people of Birmingham and the wider region. Birmingham is the beating heart of the West Midlands and when we thrive, the whole country thrives.
"Increasingly, businesses want to invest here and families want to live work here and this growth plan will bring more jobs and skills, better transport and much-needed housing, as well as support our vital net zero ambitions."
The Growth Plan will build on new projects and funding secured by the Mayor since he took office.
This includes hundreds of new social homes, £2.4bn to improve transport, more than £10m of support for local businesses, five million free bus journeys ahead of bringing the network back under public control and a flagship Investment Zone, offering tax breaks and other benefits for companies.
The Mayor has also agreed a new tram line to East Birmingham which has proved pivotal in landing the £3bn Sports Quarter regeneration project by American financier and Birmingham City FC co-owner Tom Wagner.
Full details can be found on the WMCA website.
