Proposals for Walsall and Bloxwich town centres are being discussed by Walsall Council to inject up to £25m into a variety of initiatives.
Key figures from the education, public and private sectors, as well as local organisations, have worked alongside Walsall Council and advisory boards from Bloxwich and Walsall to outline two Town Investment Plans.
Bloxwich Investment Plans
- Active Travel and Connectivity: including cycling and walking connections between Bloxwich high street, Walsall town centre and local employment sites.
- Promotion of Construction Skills Through Regeneration: Supporting training and employment through a fund that will seek applications from local housing associations and developers to financially support the remediation of existing derelict brownfield sites, and the environmental upgrading of existing dwellings. To access the fund applicants will be asked to make commitments to providing local jobs for local people, the use of local supply chains and the delivery construction skills and training for local people by developers.
- Community Capital: Grants programme for local Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) and social enterprise organisations to bid into, so they can expand their roles in supporting local people into employment and training etc.,
- Incubation Space and Digital Access Centre: The facility will provide incubation space on Bloxwich High Street for local start-ups and small businesses and allow access to digital connectivity for local residents who do not have home access to broadband. The facility will also include the provision of co-working rented spaces which allows the businesses to collaborate and provides an income stream for the facility.
- Green Bloxwich: Creating multi-use spaces such as new parks, sports arenas, allotment spaces for growing food and zones to attract and encourage wildlife. The spaces will include a social events and public space for festivals and presentations and events. This project also includes the refurbishment of heritage buildings in King George’s V Park to bring them into economic use such as the conversion to community café and skills training facility.
Walsall Investment Plans
- Construction Skills Academy: Providing a range of construction skills training to ensure Walsall residents benefit from the investment in house building and construction in the town and the wider area.
- Advanced Electric Vehicle Technology Centre: The provision of a new training facility to provide learning opportunities in the new and emerging electric vehicle market, delivered in partnership with Walsall College.
- Town Centre Performing Arts Venue: An exciting new 1,000 seater, multi-use entertainment and performance arena within Walsall Town Centre, creating a destination venue.
- Active Travel and Connectivity: active connections including cycling and walking – between Walsall town centre, Bloxwich high street, and local employment sites such as Phoenix 10.
- Digital Skills Hub: Creating a new digital skills hub in Walsall town centre. Aimed at accelerating digital growth and a ‘ready to go’ employable workforce with the skills, knowledge and experience to succeed in the changing workplace.
- Town Centre Community Learning Campus: the development of a fit for purpose adult/community education facility on the high street. Creating a new and improved offer that is accessible to all the borough and will attract more people to the town; providing day and night economic activity.
- The Creative Industries Enterprise Centre: Creation of a makerspace, creative incubator and skills development hub. Aimed at small enterprises and local residents. Providing a high street presence, with the potential to create Walsall’s version of the Digbeth Custard Factory or Bristol Engine Shed.
- Active Public Spaces: Developing an inviting, engaging and quality public space which better links the high street to the New Art Gallery and edge of town retail.
- Community Capital: Grants programme for local Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) and social enterprise organisations to bid into, so they can expand their roles in supporting local people into employment and training etc.
Speaking about the plans, Manjit Jhooty, Chair of the Town Deal Board and CEO of the Jhoots Group said:
“It’s been a privilege to take part in this process. Formulating these plans has been a challenge but I’m confident that with government approval, these ideas will have a lasting impact on the local economy. It’s a fantastic opportunity to improve the prospects for our workforce and support the innovation and entrepreneurial spirit that we have in Walsall.”
Deputy Leader of Walsall Council, Cllr Adrian Andrew said:
“I’d like to thank the council officers, members of the Town Deal boards and local community groups who have put so much effort into producing these plans. They reflect the ambition we have for Walsall as we emerge from the pandemic and begin to build a brighter future for all our residents. It’s rare for towns to have this kind of opportunity and level of investment and if we receive approval, we will begin work at once to put our plans into action.”
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