Walsall Borough Housing Strategy 2026 - Walsall: Local, regional and national Context

Walsall is a vibrant and diverse metropolitan borough, strategically located in the West Midlands and forming a key part of the Black Country sub-region. The borough is currently undergoing substantial transformation, driven by major investments in infrastructure, housing, and public services. However, Walsall faces persistent and deep-rooted socio-economic challenges, including significant deprivation, health inequalities, skills gaps, and pockets of entrenched unemployment, all of which shape the context for future housing and regeneration interventions (MHCLG, 2019; ONS, 2024). This evidence base provides a comprehensive analysis of Walsall’s demographic, economic, and social landscape to inform the development of the borough’s Housing Strategy and related policy responses.