£20m neighbourhood investment welcomed

The Leader of Redditch Borough Council has welcomed the Government’s announcement of long-term funding targeted at an area in need of regeneration.

A part of the Greenlands and Woodrow neighbourhoods in Redditch has been included in the Pride in Place Strategy, which will deliver £2 million a year for 10 years to help regenerate the community.

The funding, announced last week (September 25), is aimed specifically at neighbourhoods with high levels of deprivation and weak social infrastructure. It can be used in an area to bring disused buildings back into use, create new community facilities, and improve local infrastructure.

Cllr Sharon Harvey said: “This huge investment is wonderful news for Redditch, and it will empower people in challenging communities that have suffered from underinvestment for too long.”

Under Government rules, the Pride in Place money will be managed by Neighbourhood Board structures made up of local residents, elected politicians, council officers, and community and business stakeholders, with strong consultation requirements.

Required to be community-led and independently chaired, the boards will be responsible for the local regeneration plans, working closely with local authorities.

They will consult residents to shape their long-term vision for the investment and explore additional funding that may be available from other public, private, and philanthropic sources.

Government advice also includes that boards will be able to buy and repurpose neglected properties for community benefit, using powers such as Community Right to Buy and Compulsory Purchase.

Work to establish Redditch’s board is now expected to take place between spring and summer next year, so that it can submit regeneration plans for Government approval that autumn. Delivery funding would then be available from spring 2027.

Before that can happen, people in the area must be asked what their local investment priorities are. The details of that engagement will now be developed.

Cllr Harvey added: “The Pride in Place programme will give real influence and input at a neighbourhood level, with a strong commitment to consultation and engagement. Working with a variety of stakeholders, we can create positive and meaningful impacts. I can’t wait for Redditch to get started on this.”