'A massive opportunity for our region and the city of Birmingham' - West Midlands mayor Richard Parker lobbying for new tram connection
West Midlands mayor Richard Parker and CEO of Birmingham City owners Knighthead Tom Wagner say they are closer than ever to an ambitious £1bn plan to build a tram line into East Birmingham and on to north Solihull.
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The new Metro line would whiz passengers out of the city centre through Digbeth to a new £2.9 billion Blues super-stadium and sports quarter in Bordesley Green then continue on to Heartlands Hospital, the NEC, Birmingham Airport and the HS2 interchange and proposed health and science campus at Arden Cross.
Mr Parker and Mr Wagner have been lobbying government ministers for months, including chancellor Rachel Reeves and transport secretary Heidi Wagner, who they met with this week.
The draft proposal, carrying the strapline 'Invest a Little, Unlock a Lot' makes the case that a relatively small investment in new transport connections - with an initial ask of £350-400 million - could support billions of pounds of new private-funder schemes and thousands of jobs
It would run first from Curzon Street, the new HS2 station, via Digbeth and on to the east of the city. It would pass by the entertainment hub being created at Digbeth Loc, and on to the Sports Quarter site at Bordesley Green.
Mr Parker said: ""We are working really closely with Government.
"I have spoken to the Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander and taken Tom Wagner to Number 10, as we all want this to be joined up.
"We hope we have the support of ministers - they recognise this is not just a tram line, but will connect communities to each other and to huge investment opportunities.
"This is a massive opportunity for our region and the city of Birmingham and my role is to use my powers and commitment to ensure this happens quickly.
"What often happens is we need public funds to create infrastructure to lure in investors, in this case that has been turned on its head. We are connecting up a necklace of opportunity from the city centre out to north Solihull."
