Advantage West Midlands has announced its plans for continued improvements in rural areas of the West Midlands over the next three years.
Millions of pounds will be spent on rural communities over the period on projects such as the redevelopment of Stoneleigh Park, for which the Agency is investing £24 million, and the continued investment in the Market Towns Initiative, which has seen Agency investment of £500,000 to part-fund £1million regeneration programmes in each town.
The plans are outlined in 'Rural Renaissance,' a document which sets out future actions for rural communities and suggests how local councils, can work together to achieve better results.
The strategy is split into five key areas: supporting rural business growth, learning and skills, developing a modern rural infrastructure, regenerating communities and championing the rural West Midlands.
The Highley project, in Shropshire, involved the construction of a new, multi-use community centre that acts as a focus for the delivery of a wide range of services in Highley and its hinterland. The project tackles the legacy of poor community facilities and access to services and in so doing, helps combat social exclusion in one of the most deprived and isolated wards in Shropshire.
In Staffordshire the Agency is supporting the formation of a county based 'rural hub'. This business-led network aims to provide the basis for improved communication, learning and innovative and collaborative approaches to projects.
"This new strategy is proof that our rural regions are not the 'poor relation' in terms of investment from the public and private sectors,” commented Richard Hutchins, director for rural development. “There is a wealth of talent and innovation across the rural communities and these need to be further nurtured and developed.”
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