No HS2 depot in Washwood Heath, says new council leader

NEW Birmingham City Council leader Sir Albert Bore has re-affirmed his pre-election pledge to ditch plans to turn the former LDV and Alstom sites in Washwood Heath into a high-speed rail maintenance depot.

Instead the area will be regenerated to become The Heartlands Park Business Hub, most probably as a centre for the low carbon motor industry.

In opposition Sir Albert was critical of plans put forward by the Conservative/Liberal coalition to set aside the Washwood Heath site for a HS2 depot, despite the fact work on the scheme doesn’t start until 2016.

He argued that the greater need in a part of Birmingham with very high unemployment levels is for a scheme that creates jobs much more quickly.

In his inaugural speech setting out his plans to the council, Sir Albert said the ruling Labour Party’s economic growth policy will revolve around the creation of six new enterprise areas. They are:

• The first phase of the Advanced Manufacturing Hub at the 20 hectare Aston regional investment site

• A zone for environmental enterprise in Tyseley

• The aforementioned Heartlands Park Business Hub in Washwood Heath

• A medical technology/ life sciences campus in Edgbaston/Selly Oak

• The ITEC Park – for digital businesses at Longbridge, linked to the digital district in Digbeth

• A Food Hub – a cluster of food businesses with the provision of shared facilities.

“We published an extensive manifesto before the elections. We said what we would do and we are already implementing those promises, which include a major development site at Washwood Heath – the city’s second biggest development site – where there is the potential to create 6,000 jobs,” Sir Albert said.

“We will work with businesses to develop new economic growth zones. An investment prospectus will be published in September.”

Elsewhere in his speech, Sir Albert said the council will set out a comprehensive approach to creating a ‘green city’ and ensure that it is recognised nationally and internationally.

And he said the council is committed to turning Birmingham into the enterprise capital of Britain, making Birmingham Britain’s easiest place to start and grow a business.

He is also calling for a closer relationship between the council and city businesses.

“We have already announced a business charter for social responsibility – which will invite companies working with the council to make even stronger contributions to the city through local employment, training and apprenticeships,” he said. 

“This Labour-led council will value quality, innovation and skills more highly and make sure the world knows about it. 

“Our partnerships with the rest of the public sector, with the business community and with the voluntary and community organisations of the city are in need of reinvigoration.”

Sir Albert further revealed that the authority will introduce a ‘buy Birmingham first’ policy that gives priority to local companies bidding for council work.

And he suggested that women’s enterprise hubs could be created to give female entrepreneurs greater encouragement. The likely venues would be Stratford Road and Alum Rock Road and the hubs would be centred on the textile industry.