Birmingham secures three successful Levelling Up bids

Three of Birmingham City Council’s Levelling Up bids have been successful, with the city securing over £52m in new funding.

Funding has been awarded for major transport improvements on Dudley Road to help reduce congestion, encourage active travel, provide better public transport facilities, and improve connectivity to new housing developments.

A Grade II listed Edwardian swimming pool and library will also receive funding for the next stage of their restoration, as well as funding for remediation work on the former Birmingham Wheels site, which is expected to act as a catalyst for the area’s regeneration and create 3,000 jobs.

One of the Council’s bids, to redevelop Erdington High Street, was unsuccessful in the initial round.

Leader of Birmingham City Council, Cllr Ian Ward, said: ‘As part of our commitment to genuinely levelling up for the people and communities of Birmingham, we’re securing investment and funding to create jobs and opportunities and I’m delighted that we can now progress three of these four important projects.

‘The remediation of the Wheels Site, ongoing restoration of Moseley Road Baths and A457 Dudley Road Improvements will make a big difference to some of the most deprived neighbourhoods in the country and we will work hard to ensure our communities reap the rewards.

‘It is disappointing that the Government has chosen not to support the people of Erdington, but we will continue to push for funding and investment to ensure that all our communities can benefit from the levelling-up agenda.’

In related news, in today’s Budget and Spending Review, Rishi Sunak has announced funding to build affordable homes, improve skills and wages, and level up transport.

Photo supplied by Birmingham City Council