Amongst the higher profile childcare and pension announcements in the UK budget on 15th March was a small announcement that the West Midlands Metro extension to Brierley Hill would get a further £60 million in funding. This comes as part of the Deeper Devolution Deal and whilst it does not cover the shortfall its hoped it will be used as a springboard to secure the rest of the cash to complete the line.
Regular readers of British Trams Online will be aware that last year it was confirmed that the Wednesbury to Brierley Hill extension (the largest single extension to date) would be split into two phases because of a shortfall in funding. Although the full line had been awarded funding, costs have increased significantly with events such as the pandemic and the war in Ukraine blamed which led the West Midlands Combined Authority deciding to deliver the extension in two parts. The first as far as Dudley is due to be completed by 2024 but that from Dudley to Brierley Hill had no end date as it was dependent on being able to find additional funding.
The £60 million being awarded to the scheme will help Transport for West Midlands to look in detail at further funding opportunities and options available to ensure that the full line can be completed in the future.
Andy Street, Mayor of West Midlands and chair of WMCA, said: “A number of public infrastructure projects are facing understandable cost challenges given the prevailing winds of inflation and supply chain pressures. Metro extension schemes are also subject to this wider context so we took the difficult decision last year to pause work on phase two whilst retaining our commitment to delivering the scheme. In our subsequent efforts to seek out the necessary funding, our newly negotiated Devolution Deal has provided a breakthrough. This additional £60 million from Government acts as a springboard for the completion of the scheme as it now puts us in a strong position to secure the remaining funding required to get this extension finished at the earliest opportunity.”
Cllr Patrick Harley, Dudley Council leader, added: “Today’s announcement by the Chancellor is fantastic news for the borough, and hugely welcomed by this authority. We have always been absolutely committed to completing the Metro extension in full, and this £60 million will give us a real springboard to secure the rest of the cash we need to make the second phase a reality. It will also see cash come in to create jobs and breathe new life into the areas around the Metro routes. I’ve always been a big advocate in giving local politicians, who know their areas best, the power to make their own decisions regarding funding. The Deeper Devolution Deal announced today is a huge step in the right direction in that regard.”
The WMCA Board will now consider funding options at their meeting in June.