East Birmingham Prospectus for Growth launched
A strategy aimed at regenerating east Birmingham and improving opportunities for the area’s residents has today been launched.
The East Birmingham Prospectus for Growth sets out the commitment of Birmingham City Council to deliver positive change through employment and skills, improving connectivity, and delivering growth.
Sir Albert Bore, leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “These are exciting times for Birmingham, with HS2-related growth in the city centre and UK Central benefiting the whole city. But we must make sure that local people reap the benefits, particularly in the east of the city, which is located between these two growth areas.
“We will achieve this by delivering development which will create and secure jobs, improving access to those jobs and providing the conditions for business growth.
“This prospectus shows our commitment to the east of Birmingham, working with our partners including the GBSLEP and central government to drive through sustainable change and give residents the life chances they deserve.â€
Councillor Tahir Ali, cabinet member for transport, growth and the economy, said: “This prospectus addresses the particular challenges faced by east Birmingham, which continues to have high levels of unemployment and low skills levels while other parts of the city have improved.
“However, east Birmingham is uniquely placed to benefit from all the opportunities coming to the area and the wider city. These growth opportunities and transport projects will bring both economic and physical improvements and, alongside interventions to reduce unemployment, will enable the area to reap some tangible and sustainable benefits.
“The prospectus is a starting point that sets out our commitment and priorities, with specific actions being developed and delivered along with our key partners.â€
The prospectus identifies three key areas of activity: employment and skills, improving connectivity and delivering growth.Â
An Employment and Skills Partnership has been set up to tackle the issues which have led to sustained high levels of unemployment and low levels of skills in east Birmingham. This partnership will launch a more detailed plan in April 2015.
Proposed transport infrastructure projects will better enable residents to access jobs and training opportunities. As well as highways improvements at key junctions there are proposals for two rapid transport routes, including emerging proposals for further extension of the Metro - linking the city centre with UK Central via Bordesley Green and north Solihull - and improved rail services.
The commitment to delivering growth includes key sites where new development can best be realised, in line with the Birmingham Development Plan. Bordesley Park will see 3,000 jobs created at a major new employment site as well as new homes and community facilities; an area including Shard End will include 1,000 new homes and improvements to local community provision. More widely, development in the city centre identified through the Big City Plan could deliver some 50,000 new jobs and UK Central will have the capacity to provide around 20,000 new jobs.
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