Infrastructure under the spotlight at ‘Connections for Prosperity’ conference – 5th and 6th July
Centre for the New Midlands (CNM) is to host its inaugural ‘Connections for Prosperity’ conference to discuss the role infrastructure has in solving the challenges and opportunities facing the region’s people, economy, and environment. From 5th to 6th July, at Warwick Conferences, University of Warwick, Coventry, ‘Connections for Prosperity’ will bring together key public […]
The national skills shortage is limiting councils’ ability to meet their placemaking ambitions – so what’s the solution?
Local councils across England are highly ambitious and forward-thinking in their vision to have well-designed spaces that are socially and environmentally inclusive and sustainable. However, they are facing huge challenges across the board leading to unspent funding and a lack of staff capacity to engage and build meaningful relationships with businesses, organisations and the local […]
How do we deliver affordable housing across the West Midlands?
On 16 March 2023, the Centre for the New Midlands held an affordable housing roundtable at Eighteen, 103 Colmore Row in Birmingham and the report summarising our discussion is available to download here. The aim of this roundtable was not simply to agree on the extensive barriers preventing our region from delivering the affordable […]
The West Midlands – home to the UK’s first sustainable ecosystem for the creative sector?
In March, the latest ‘Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’ (IPCC) study delivered its “Climate Change 2023: Synthesis Report”, aka “the How-To Guide to Defuse the Climate Time-bomb.” with an emphasis on climate resilient development. In this article, Mark Hughes-Webb (Founder and Chief Ecosystems Officer , SPACE-2 Group) assesses some of the challenges and […]
Closing the Digital Divide: Challenges and Opportunities of Digital Inclusion
“Digital inclusion is the process of ensuring that everyone, regardless of their economic or social status, has access to and can use digital technologies.” In this article, Professor Mohammad Patwary (Director of Digital Innovation & Solution Centre, University of Wolverhampton) provides a framework for how local authorities can help to close the ‘digital […]
There’s nothing middling about the Midlands
When the different voices of the United Kingdom are heard, it is often remarked that London shouts the loudest, then “the North”, with the Midlands and the other regions (and nations) too often forgotten. We are delighted to introduce Debbie Newbould (pictured) Mark Hadfield and Andrew Jerina who, through the Meet the 85% project, […]
How killing off council tax would deliver for voters in the West Midlands and beyond
This week, Lee Rowley MP (Minister for Local Government) confirmed to the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities committee that the Government would not be proposing a ‘wholesale reform’ of the council tax system “irrespective of a more philosophical discussion whether it’s the right or wring thing for now”. This time last year, we shared an […]
A Spotlight on Project 80
In this article, Dr Steve McCabe (Associate Professor, Birmingham City University) and Mike Leonard (CEO, Building Alliance and Visiting Professor at Birmingham City University) provide an insight into Project 80; a new initiative led by Midland Heart which will provide an initial development of 12 homes and 12 maisonettes in Birmingham that meets the Future Homes Standard, three years ahead […]
BioBrum: the emerging epicentre of life science innovation
In 2022, headlines in the science sector were dominated by one topic: the ‘crippling shortages of lab space’ with demand far outstripping supply and start-ups squeezed out, unable to fulfil their ambition and potential. In this article, Allan Andrews (Senior Policy Advisor to the Mayor of the West Midlands) explains how a Birmingham development is […]
West Midlands growth is the focus of Westminster reception
The Centre for the New Midlands hosted its inaugural Winter Reception at the prestigious Churchill Room in the Palace of Westminster last week, gathering MPs, dignitaries, professionals and academics together to celebrate the importance of harnessing education and new technology in the regeneration of the West Midlands. On Tuesday 6th December Andy Street CBE, Mayor […]