A long-awaited revamp of the Gracechurch Centre is set to start soon, after Mayor Andy Street secured around £10million in funding to facilitate the scheme.
As the festive season arrives and the longer nights draw in, the wonderful sun-lit success of last summer’s Birmingham Commonwealth Games suddenly seems a million years ago.
One of the things I have set out to do as Mayor of the West Midlands is build a world-class transport system for our region, and Digbeth has often found itself at the centre of this ambition.
Since I became Mayor of my home region, the West Midlands has enjoyed a sense of real renewal, addressing long-standing challenges in housing, transport investment and skills. However, one fundamental issue has significantly worsened during that time – crime.
As someone who fought tooth and nail to keep HS2 on track, last week’s decision to shelve the project from Birmingham to Manchester was very disappointing. Despite determined lobbying, the Prime Minister chose to move in a different direction, refocusing HS2 money to invest in local networks in