£2. 4 billion war chest could turn west midlands into sporting powerhouse

THE WEST MIDLANDS HAS BEEN HANDED £2.4 BILLION FOR TRANSPORT PROJECTS OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS 15:07, 04 Jun 2025 A huge multi-billion pound transport war chest for the West Midlands could

transform the region into "an investment and sporting powerhouse". Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced £15.6 billion to fund transport schemes across the UK over the next five years

with the West Midlands getting £2.4 billion of that pot. The first confirmed project in the region to benefit is a new tram line going to Birmingham City FC owners Knighthead's

ambitious £3 billion Sports Quarter project in the East of the city. READ MORE: STRIKING IMAGES SHOW HOW £24 MILLION MIDLAND INTERCHANGE WILL LOOK AND IT'S 'SLEEK' Blues

proposals include a new 60,000-seater stadium at the former Wheels site, sports campus of training facilities, a new academy, community pitches as well as leisure, commercial and residential

development. Investment bosses said the Government money will unlock 'huge potential' for private investment in the region. Article continues below The new tram route will travel

to Bordesley from the Eastside extension currently being built, serving key locations including Millennium Point, Birmingham City University, the Curzon Street HS2 station and Digbeth. It is

expected to be a catalyst for an extension from the Sports Quarter going on to North Solihull, the airport, NEC, HS2 Interchange and surrounding Arden Cross regeneration zone. WHOSE SIDE

ARE YOU ON IN THE BIN STRIKE? Neil Rami, Chief Executive of the West Midlands Growth Company, said: "This £2.4billion transport funding package from government marks a defining next

step in transforming Birmingham and the wider West Midlands into an investment and sporting powerhouse. "We’ve known for a while that the Birmingham Sports Quarter will be a

trailblazing development for the region, driving opportunities for growth and wider regeneration, but this funding green light from the Chancellor will now turn our bold ambitions into a

game-changing reality. "This funding will serve as a catalyst to connect the region like never before, unlocking huge potential for private development partners to collaborate on one of

the UK’s most exciting projects of recent times." Article continues below West Midlands Combined Authority said the tram scheme could unlock around £10 billion of private investment,

55,000 new jobs and 7,700 homes. West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker said: "This funding means we can now deliver a new Metro line to the Sports Quarter - connecting it to Birmingham

city centre and unlocking one of the most significant private investments our region has ever seen. "But this is just the beginning. This investment unlocks a nationally significant

infrastructure project that will transform East Birmingham and North Solihull into one of the UK’s key growth corridors - driving thousands of new homes and jobs and bringing opportunity to

communities that have been held back for too long."