Plans unveiled for £20bn masterplan to stimulate M42 Gateway
PLANS have been unveiled for an ambitious £20bn growth programme which could transform the area around the National Exhibition Centre and Birmingham Airport, leading to the creation of 100,000 new jobs.
The proposal, dubbed UK Central (UKC), has been drafted by Solihull Borough Council and the Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership for development of the M42 Gateway area up until 2040.
However, the plan is dependent on a lot of different strands coming together including the expansion of Birmingham Airport, the development of the HS2 high speed rail programme and further investment in commercial developments such as the Blythe Valley and Birmingham Business Parks.
UKC architects are confident the scheme is viable. They claim major investments in the airport and the arrival of HS2, the NEC’s £125m Resorts World complex and growth at Jaguar Land Rover demonstrate the potential is real.
The Arup-led consortium appointed to produce the UKC plan has predicted that an additional 100,000 jobs could be created, thereby increasing the region’s revenue to up to £19.5bn annually by 2040.
The 200 page proposal outlines how bold measures need to be taken to capitalise on the potential. These include:
• Early and bold investment in local connectivity, including new modes of rapid transit to create a genuinely connected network
• Investing in green infrastructure as a vital economic asset
• Targeting investment in Junction Six of the M42 to facilitate the growth of Birmingham Airport, the NEC and Birmingham Business Park
• Delivering managed growth around four key locations, namely North Solihull, Solihull Town Centre, Blythe Valley Business Park and the Hub – the epicentre of UKC which includes the NEC, airport, Birmingham Business Park and the proposed High Speed Rail station.
• The creation of a special purpose delivery vehicle called UKC Limited, staffed to procure and deliver schemes identified in a strategic business plan and accelerating planning, funding and implementation.
• Piloting a Single Local Growth Fund, and attracting additional private sector investment
Cllr Ken Meeson, Leader of Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, said: “UKC represents one of the most important economic opportunities for the city region, wider West Midlands and the UK as a whole.
“Its position at the heart of the UK transport networks and existing strengths as a growing centre for advanced engineering, high value manufacturing and tourism, combined with major assets such as Birmingham Airport, National Exhibition Centre and the home of Land Rover already make it one of the UK’s premier business locations.”
Andy Street, chair of the GBSLEP, said: “Partners across the LEP applaud the vision shown by Solihull MBC in driving forward UKC to build on its record of success.
“This opportunity is undoubtedly one of the LEP’s ‘big ideas’ as it has a unique combination of advantages for business growth.
“Investments in Birmingham Airport and the arrival of the HS2 network makes it vital that we put the arrangements in place now to capitalise on the improved offer that UK Central will present to investors.”
He said that by taking a structured approach to the development of UKC and maximising the GBSLEP’s links with Government, the various parties associated with the project could ensure the development would benefit the whole Greater Birmingham city region.
