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15 - Black Country regeneration gets go-ahead
Dudley Council today welcomed government backing of the long-term regeneration plans for the Black Country.
The announcement by secretary of state Hazel Blears supports the vision of the Black Country Study and sets the long term strategy for the region’s renaissance over the next 30 years.
It paves the way for new homes, more jobs and greater business opportunities across the region, all supported by better public transport and living environments.
Brierley Hill will now join Wolverhampton city centre and Walsall and West Bromwich town centres as the Black Country’s fourth strategic centre. These will be the focus for new commercial and retail development, creating employment opportunities, along with new homes.
Dudley’s future renaissance will focus on the town’s unique tourism and cultural heritage, such as Castle Hill, the museum and Wrens Nest National Nature Reserve, alongside its continued civic role.
The provision of new high quality homes and employment opportunities along transport corridors will create a much greater variety of choice of homes and living and working environments for people in the Black Country.
In addition, a network of quality bus, walking and cycling routes alongside the development of the Metro extension will help people move more quickly and easily around the region.
Councillor David Caunt, leader of Dudley Council, said:
“We are delighted the government is endorsing our radical proposals for the regeneration of the Black Country.
“The four local authorities have been working together to shape this vision for the region’s future which will give people a greater choice of homes, more jobs, stronger business opportunities, all supported by a better public transport network and living environment.
“These are exciting times for the whole of Dudley borough, which can only benefit from the major investment which will be attracted, and the wealth of regeneration opportunities which lie ahead of us.
“It is very good news for everyone living and working and investing in Dudley borough and the Black Country.”
The government’s report is the sub-regional 'Black Country' Phase One revision to the existing Regional Spatial Strategy, RSS, which sets out the planning framework for the whole of the West Midlands region.
It follows an examination in public in January 2007 when the Black Country Consortium and the Black Country authorities put forward the case for the groundbreaking proposals.
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