Regeneration
Levelling Up Fund bid successfully secures £20m to transform Willenhall
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It was confirmed yesterday that Walsall Council’s bid for £20m of Levelling Up Fund Round 2 (LUF2) for Willenhall has been successful. The development of Willenhall Garden City in Walsall will be accelerated by this grant.
It was confirmed yesterday that Walsall Council’s bid for £20m of Levelling Up Fund Round 2 (LUF2) for Willenhall has been successful. The development of Willenhall Garden City in Walsall will be accelerated by this grant, which will play a key role in unlocking a £210 million regeneration plan, enabling the delivery of new homes, parks, and a railway station.
A total of 111 areas out of over 550 across the UK have been awarded funding from LUF2 and Willenhall is one of just eight successful bids across the wider West Midlands area.
“ This is a new beginning for Willenhall and an opportunity to look to a future of a more positive vibrant and successful Willenhall. The Love Willenhall Masterplan was launched and developed precisely to secure external funding like this and as someone involved in shaping this policy since day one I am incredibly proud of this achievement. This is the largest injection of funding in Willenhall in over 40 years and it shows that our commitment to regeneration in Willenhall in a real sense and not just in cosmetic changes is strong and on track. We will deliver a safer stronger cleaner greener Willenhall.
I look forward to welcoming the Secretary of State to Willenhall to discuss our plans in more detail and show him around to see for himself the positive changes we’re planning.
This was a competitive process and our success wouldn’t have happened without the sterling work of a small but very dedicated team of regeneration officers and I’m very grateful to them for their hard work. “
The Walsall North LUF2 £20m bid proposals focus on works to enable around 106 new homes at Moat Street and Villiers Street and highway improvements to promote active travel, creating attractive spaces for communities to live and work. The proposals fit within the overarching vision and objectives set within the Willenhall Framework Plan will accelerate housing and economic growth opportunities following the investment in the new rail station.
~ENDS~
Note to Editor
LUF2 is a competitive fund and is jointly managed by the HM Treasury (HMT), Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) and Department for Transport (DfT). Levelling Up Fund Round 2 (LUF2) was announced by Government at the end of March 2022.
Information on the Willenhall Framework Plan
The Moat Street/Villiers Street scheme in Willenhall is the first phase of a wider housing-led programme to enable delivery of over 500 new homes in the Framework Plan area. The LUF2 bid will enable the delivery of circa 106 new high-quality homes, including new affordable homes, family-focused housing and an improved street scene.
The movement element is focused on improving active travel and connectivity between the rail station, district centre, green spaces and residential and employment areas:
- The Greenway — cycle/pedestrian route that runs east-west on the former railway line from St Anne’s Road to Willenhall Memorial Park and employment areas.
- Railway Lane — north-south active travel route between Willenhall Trading Estate and the town centre.
- Rosehill/Bilston Lane junction — new 3-armed roundabout to increase capacity and reduce congestion.
