Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what projects he (a) has approved and (b) is considering for financing through the Towns Fund in the West Midlands Combined Authority area.

Seven towns in constituent authorities of the West Midlands Combined Authority – Dudley, Wolverhampton, Rowley Regis, Smethwick, West Bromwich, Bloxwich and Walsall – have been invited to develop proposals for Town Deals.

Three further towns from non-constituent authorities of the West Midlands Combined Authority – Nuneaton, Redditch and Telford –– have also been invited to develop proposals.

Each of these 10 towns are at various stages of developing their proposals for Town Deals.

All 10 towns received accelerated funding in September 2020 for capital projects that would make an immediate difference in the town, helping recovery from the impact of Covid-19. We are continuing to work with the towns as they develop proposals and turn their plans into reality.