Members of the West Midlands Combined Authority are to be asked to agree a new funding package which will enable the second phase of the Wednesbury to Brierley Hill West Midlands Metro extension to start construction. The project was split into two distinct phases last year after increased costs meant that funding was no longer available for the complete length of the line, and now it appears that it could be a three phase project if this latest funding package is agreed.
The Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Metro line is planned to eventually run for 11km but will be delivered in phases. The first phase, due to open in 2024, will run from Wednesbury to Dudley (Flood Street) and include nine new stops. This is fully funded and construction work is already well underway to deliver this part of the project.
Its beyond Flood Street which is currently up in the air, although the Combined Authority and Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street, have consistently said that they remain committed to finding ways to ensure the complete project. The latest news on it now seems that it has been decided to further split the remaining section into another couple of phases.
- Phase 2 – Dudley Town Centre to Merry Hill Waterfront, Brierley Hill. Subject to a funding contribution from Dudley Council this would then be extended to the Merry Hill Shopping Centre.
- Phase 3 – Further to Brierley Hill. This will be subject to further funding becoming available and is not part of the vote due to take place at the WMCA this month.
The new funding package includes a £60 million grant from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities which was agreed back in March as part of the Deeper Devolution Deal. This is subject to approval of the business case and will be topped up with further support from the WMCA’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement and Dudley Council.
As well as being Mayor, Andy Street is the Chair of the WMCA, he had this to say: “I have always been clear that whatever the economic backdrop we must get the Metro extension from Wednesbury to Brierley Hill built, and so I am delighted we’ve now found the funds we need to make that happen. It wasn’t an easy decision to phase construction last year, but against a backdrop of rising energy, borrowing, and supply costs we really had little choice. Now however we are ready to press on again subject to WMCA board approval and start construction on Phase Two with Phase One already well underway. The reason this line is so important and why our commitment has remained steadfast is that it will provide people in Dudley with a modern transport system that better connects them to opportunities across the West Midlands. The sooner we get it built, the sooner people can reap those benefits.”
The full costs of the scheme are still subject to contract and a full business case.