Rt. Hon. James Brokenshire Secretary of State for Housing, Communities & Local Government Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government 2 Marsham Street Westminster LONDON SW1P 4DF

22nd March 2019

Support for the Sutton Coldfield Application to the Future High Streets Fund

Dear James,

I am writing to support the and Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council bid to improve Sutton Coldfield town centre. As you will see in application they have submitted, there is real ambition in these proposals, and the opportunity to make a significant difference to the lives of residents.

For a thriving modern British town centre, I believe in the importance of strong local leadership, and I know that the community in Sutton Coldfield has come together behind this bid, both from the private and the public sector.

This application has understood that the future of our town centres requires us to think beyond retail, and to look at urban living, public services and employment in town centres. These places must be green and clean, easy to get to and safe and secure for people to spend time in.

The Combined Authority is committed to supporting this bid with expertise from its Housing and Land, Transport and Inclusive Growth teams. We will work to ensure that the work we are doing on transport links, housing developments, employment opportunities, skills provision and other public services, supports the improvements that are proposed in this bid.

For example, Transport for West Midlands is planning significant investment in the Sutton Gateway bus station improvement project, which will support the transformation of Sutton Coldfield town centre.

We hope that you will progress this application to Phase 2, and we look forward to developing these proposals in the coming months.

Yours sincerely,

Andy Street Mayor of the West Midlands

Copy Councillor Ian Ward, Leader, Birmingham City Council Councillor Simon Ward, Leader, Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council Rt. Hon. Andrew Mitchell MP Councillor Robert Alden, Conservative Group Leader, Birmingham City Council Dawn Baxendale, Chief Executive, Birmingham City Council Stephen Roberts, Chair, Sutton Coldfield Town Centre Business Improvement District

West Midlands Combined Authority, 16 Summer Lane, Birmingham, B19 3SD Tel: 0345 303 6760 wmca.org.uk