Council gets £10.2m transport and infrastructure funding boost to prepare for HS2

Solihull Council has secured £10.2m from the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) to deliver major transport and infrastructure schemes ahead of the arrival of HS2.

Part of the second phase of projects to be delivered under the UK Central Solihull growth and development programme, the funding will be used to support a number of schemes including key route improvements, investments in sustainable travel and to support new technologies including low carbon energy and electric and autonomous vehicles.

This will also sit alongside programmes of associated commercial and residential development and will fit into wider regional investment from HS2, Highways England, Transport for West Midlands (part of the WMCA) and the Midland Metro Alliance.

This combined investment will underpin the growth potential of the area, which is an estimated 90,000 jobs and an increase of £5.3bn a year in GVA for the West Midlands up to 2050.

Central to these plans is improving the links between the town and the area known as the UK Central ‘Hub’. This is home to the new HS2 Interchange station, which includes Birmingham Airport, the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham Business Park and Jaguar Land Rover.

There is also a strong focus on investment in Solihull town centre.

Following the recent investment improving access between Solihull train station and the town centre, this funding will help develop plans for an integrated transport hub including an upgraded train station, alongside new homes and new Grade A office space to accommodate new jobs in the town centre.

Cllr Ted Richards, cabinet member for transport and highways, said: “Investment in our key schemes across the borough will help make sure our infrastructure is ready for the growth created by HS2 and allow us to ensure we continue to have the right conditions for people to live, work and invest.

Cllr Roger Lawrence, WMCA portfolio holder for transport and leader of City of Wolverhampton Council, added: “We are committed to using the powers and funding being transferred from Whitehall to the West Midlands to bring about economic growth that benefits all of our communities.

“We need an efficient and fully connected transport system to support that growth, which is why the WMCA is helping to fund infrastructure projects of this nature which will not only benefit Solihull but also Birmingham, Coventry and other key destinations across the West Midlands.”