An Opportunity Waiting to Happen

Karen Walker, chief executive of RegenCo, gives Fusion a feel for what’s in store for West Bromwich.
 
When RegenCo – the Urban Regeneration Company for Sandwell - was born, some three years ago, the three partners behind it namely English Partnerships, Advantage West Midlands and Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, knew there would be some real challenges. Why else would it have been formed? You don’t establish a URC unless there’s a serious regeneration job to be done. Some of the negatives quoted include dereliction, economic decline, low skills base and social deprivation.
 
Lets not forget the really major plus points though. There is a large population here, providing potential employers with staff right on your doorstep. There’s plenty of land for redevelopment and the transport infrastructure is superb, within striking distance of the M5 and M6, with the Metro, on the main network
railway and with excellent access into Birmingham. And the area steeped in industrial heritage. Combined, this is a really attractive proposition.
 
While our remit covers substantial area, taking in West Bromwich, Smethwick and Hill Top, our absolute focus is on West Bromwich which has been designated one of four key centres for the Black Country. The town, for all the factors mentioned above as well as a lot more besides, is ripe for growth.
 
At the heart of this is the development of the town centre. Many will be aware of the plans to create a major retail scheme, anchored by Tesco, in the centre of West Bromwich, in addition to which will be a new department store and up to other retail units.
 
After years of planning and assembling this large site, work will now commence for real in 2007, starting on the highways improvements and major site clearance. The Tesco scheme will create a new link to Queen’s Square, for which its owners, Halladale, have just received consent to undertake a major refurbishment and provide a large extension. Together they embrace the high street and Town Square, giving a central focus to West Bromwich and boosting hugely the scale and quality of shopping in a contemporary and vibrant environment. The Council has been actively promoting retail-led regeneration in the town, with these schemes totalling an impressive 780,000 sq ft and accounting for some £350 million of private sector investment. However it doesn’t stop there. RegenCo is exploring additional developments, mixed-use, office- focused and residential which together with create the momentum the town needs to truly drive forward growth and prosperity.
 
The life of a place is dependant on the people who populate it, helping to sustain its heart and soul and absolutely central to the evolution of West Bromwich is the growth of ‘city living.’ It is critical that high quality residential development is undertaken in the town, to attract new residents, people who will live and work locally. As significant improvements are made to educational facilities and standards, a new generation of young people will grow up in the area, the skills base will expand creating the employment pool of the future. These people must be encouraged to stay and others to relocate into the area; and they will all need somewhere to live.
 
There are a number of residential development opportunities in West Bromwich town centre, taking on board the requirements for good quality, environmentally sustainable housing in proximity to the local infrastructure. RegenCo will be actively seeking partnerships with house builders who want to share our vision for the area. While we are all about the physical regeneration of West Bromwich, ultimately the aim is to nurture and grow its existing and future communities.