Five new Smethwick regeneration projects have been given the go-ahead by the government with £23.5m funding provided for Sandwell’s ambitious Towns Fund Programme.

Smethwick Local Boards and its key delivery partners – including Sandwell Council, Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust – have worked to shape and develop all five Smethwick projects.

Cllr Peter Hughes, Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for regeneration and growth, said: "We welcome the government's approval for our five projects, which will make a real difference to our residents. By working together in partnership, we will strengthen our businesses, enhance our infrastructure, boost Sandwell’s entrepreneurial spirit, bring communities together and create a fairer, more resilient Sandwell.” 

The Smethwick projects are the Ron Davis Centre Expansion (Sandwell Council), which will see the development of a learning centre for adults aged 19+, the Midland Met Learning Campus (Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust), a new skills resource next to the Midland Met University Hospital development, providing training in health care and healthcare-related positions, the Grove Lane Regeneration (Sandwell Council), which will see the acquisition and remediation of a selected site within the area to accelerate regeneration for housing delivery, the Rolfe Street Canalside Regeneration (Sandwell Council), which is the demolition and remediation of the site to free up land for a development-ready location, which will provide much needed housing to support the wider regeneration of the town and finally the Smethwick Connected (Sandwell Council), a scheme which will improve access and connectivity within Smethwick by delivering cycling and walking infrastructure improvements, and enhance safety.  

The five approved projects will deliver 31 full-time equivalent jobs, 155 temporary jobs, 1,380 learners enrolled onto courses, 30,000 sqm of land remediated for future development, 2.7km of new cycle ways and 3.6km of new pedestrian paths. 

Alan Taylor, Chair of Smethwick Local Board, said: “The Smethwick Towns Fund is a valuable opportunity to make a real difference to the people and businesses of Smethwick and the wider area of Sandwell. I believe that these investments, together with the Smethwick Connected transport infrastructure projects, will help Smethwick prepare to for the next successful part of its history.” 

Sandwell Council has worked in partnership with Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, Canal & River Trust, Greets Green Community Enterprise Centre and Sandwell College (Sandwell’s Towns Fund Partnership) to help secure £67.5m of Towns Fund investment in total for Sandwell.