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Western Growth Corridor

The Western Growth Corridor covers about 1000 hectares of land between Birmingham City centre and West Bromwich town centre, being split approximately 50/50 between Birmingham and Sandwell local authority areas.

Why is the western growth corridor important?

The latest prediction is that by 2021 there will be an increase of 12,000 households within the Urban Living area, mostly due to a natural growth from within the existing population. The Western Growth corridor is the part of the Urban Living area with the most potential to accommodate housing growth. This growth needs to be carefully planned for, so that it stitches together the old neighbourhoods that have been severed by transport infrastructure and post war redevelopment, and to maximize employment opportunities for existing communities. Within the WGC area, it's the canal corridor from Icknield Port Loop to Smethwick which has been identified as a priority for neighbourhood planning. The area already includes lively high streets, such as the Soho Road and the Dudley Road, which can strengthen local identity and economic confidence.

What needs to be done in the Western Growth Corridor?

In addition to enhancing environmental quality within the local neighbourhoods, there is a need to work with the grain of the place, to partner with local people to identify where new development can be accommodated to the benefit of existing communities. We will continue to remediate the redundant industrial land in the area and bring it back into productive use for housing, employment and leisure uses. This is a long term project requiring a "co-production" approach between local people, the private sector and the public sector, over at least ten years. The hard work will be worth it because a transformed housing market and physical environment will enhance quality of life, prosperity and community cohesion.

What has happened this year?

Urban living commissioned a spatial strategy for the Western Growth Corridor and this was completed in June 2009. The strategy provides a "big picture" for sustainable neighbourhoods and it brings together the survey information that is required for effective decision making. Following completion of this strategy Urban Living commissioned a project called "Creating a Sense of Place in the Western Growth Corridor". This project included the recruitment of local residents as citizen journalists who have captured the stories and ideas of local people. These stories explain what makes the neighbourhood a special place for the people that live there. Local people's stories and ideas have directly influenced the production of neighbourhood management plans produced by Birmingham City Council as well as the spatial plans for the area, including the A41 Strategic Regeneration Framework. Through the Sense of Place project a Soho Foundation has been set up to champion a 'co-production' approach to regeneration. This has involved local people signing up to "Do Dream Pledge" in improving their neighbourhood. The toolkit upon which the stories and pledges are recorded can be seen at www.SohoFoundation.org.uk.

What happens next?

More detailed neighbourhood plans are being created in the Western Growth Corridor, with a focus upon Smethwick, Icknield Port Loop, and the canal corridor that links these two growth areas. We are extending the Sense of Place project and the Soho Foundation approach of "Do Dream Pledge" to ensure that local people shape the plans for their area and to ensure they get the jobs and other opportunities that come from new development. A key activity is our work with the decision makers related to the new Acute Hospital due to be built in Smethwick, to ensure that this new £500 million facility is built in way that will serve as a catalyst for neighbourhood renewal and economic development.

For more information contact Nick Corbett, Director of Urban Design on 0121 565 6540 nick_corbett@sandwell.gov.uk