Agenda Item No. 9

Meeting of the Place Scrutiny Committee – 28th January 2021

Report of the Director of Regeneration and Enterprise

The Wednesbury to Metro Extension

Purpose of Report

1. To provide members of the Place Scrutiny Committee an update on progress with the delivery of the Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Metro Extension (WBHE) in the form of a presentation.

Recommendations

2. It is recommended that the Place Scrutiny Committee note and make comments on the content of the report and presentation.

Background

3. The WBHE is a major catalyst towards the regeneration of the Council area and at £449.5m is the largest infrastructure project being delivered by the WMCA through Transport for (TfWM). TfWM has procured Midland Metro Alliance (MMA) to construct the Metro.

4. It is vital that the Council works with its partners to ensure the delivery of the scheme. Quarterly Reports are provided to Place Scrutiny and it was agreed at the 24th September, 2020 meeting of the Committee that this quarter’s report should take the form of a Presentation and Discussion.

5. Local Governance has been established by the creation in 2017 of the Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Extension Project Board which brings together all the key partners on a Monthly basis to oversee the delivery of the project; its interdependencies with other key transport projects; and ensure that the necessary actions are undertaken to maximise the economic

impact of the Metro. The Board is chaired by the Director of Regeneration and Enterprise of Dudley Council.

The Project

6. The objectives of the Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Extension support Dudley Council’s and the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) transformative vision for the area. The core objectives below remain as set out in the Outline Business Case (OBC) approved by the WMCA Board in April 2017:

- Support regeneration in areas of high deprivation through improved connectivity with areas of opportunity; - Support economic development by improving the accessibility of major employment sites including the DY5 Enterprise Zone; - Encourage modal shift from private car by delivering a high quality and reliable public transport service; - Support an integrated transport network through providing seamless interchange with bus and other modes; - Deliver a high quality public transport service in a manner that supports the local environmental and safety benefits.

7. The Wednesbury to Brierley Hill extension will connect with Midland Metro Line 1 which connects to at Wednesbury and run from Line 1 via Dudley town centre and Waterfront / Merry Hill to Brierley Hill. The scheme will provide up to 17 new stops and will integrate with the new Dudley Interchange, for local bus services, and at Dudley Port railway station.

8. The Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Extension comprises: • 10.7km of new twin track tramway (of which 6.7km runs along the former South Railway corridor and 4.0km running on- street through Dudley, the Waterfront / Merry Hill and Brierley Hill). • 17 Metro stops (of which 2 are provisional). • 11 road traffic junctions crossed at-grade. • 23 existing structures to be refurbished or rebuilt (road, railway and canal bridges, including the Parkhead Viaduct). • 4 new structures to be built (2 which connect with Metro Line 1 and 2 over Dudley Canal at Brierley Hill). • Connections with Metro Line 1, Dudley Port railway station, Dudley Interchange, Waterfront and Merry Hill shopping centre.

Finance

9. Funding for complementary public realm measures is included within the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS). Financial benefits to the Council will largely be seen beyond the life of the current three year Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS).

Law

10. The Council would be exercising powers as set out in S123 of the 1972 Local Government Act with respect to the Land Transfer to WMCA and is being advised by internal and external legal experts in pursuit of this matter

Equality Impact

11. Dudley and MBCs with WMCA have identified the Metro Route as an Inclusive Growth Corridor and are committed to maximising the economic benefits of the Metro for local residents

Human Resources/Organisational Development

12. This report does not have any implications for human resources or service transformation across the Council.

Commercial/Procurement

13. This report does not have any implications for Commercial or for Procurement as procurement of the project is by other public bodies. The project will be required to deliver social value in the Borough.

Health, Wellbeing and Safety

14. The Metro project will contribute to health, wellbeing and safety by encouraging the use of public transport, making transport links more accessible and widely available, reducing the reliance on cars, greater connectivity to local towns, contributing to reducing emissions and impact on the environment, and will have a positive impact on physical activity through increased active travel.

Helen Martin Director of Regeneration & Enterprise

Contact Officer: Jim Cunningham Telephone: 01384 814429 Email: [email protected]