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PRIVACY
Economic Development

Levelling up zones set to drive West Midlands economic growth

Zones have already been identified as having the potential to accelerate growth, development and regeneration

CGI of plans for the West Midlands Gigafactory at Coventry Airport

The region's economy will be boosted by new so-called levelling up zones to be established across the West Midlands as part of a new devolution deal.

A group of zones have already been identified as having the potential to accelerate growth, development and regeneration.

Key investment sites within each will be unlocked by a new agreement with the Government that enables the region to retain business rates growth over the next 25 years, said to be worth around £500 million.

Growth zones being considered include East Birmingham North Solihull corridor and º£½ÇÊÓÆµ Central; green innovation corridor and University of Wolverhampton's National Centre for Sustainable Construction; Dudley Metro, Wednesbury to Birmingham Road, Tipton; and Dudley to Brierley Hill. Also included is the Gigafactory site at Coventry Airport.

As part of the Devolution Deal announced in last week's Budget and signed this week, the region's economy will also be driven by a stronger role in supporting business productivity, trade and investment and innovation.

Further areas of post-19 education and skills will be devolved to the West Midlands Combined Authority, along with greater oversight of post-16 technical education and skills, careers, and employment support programmes.

The Government has committed to a £25 million capital fund to support business decarbonisation, culture, environmental programmes and the West Midlands' Smart City Region initiative.