Birmingham City FC's ambitious £3 billion Sports Quarter project is set to take a significant step forward with major transport plans. Members of the West Midlands Combined Authority's Investment Board are recommended to allocate over £5.7 million for the East Birmingham to Solihull Mass Rapid Transit Corridor and associated connectivity activities.
This follows a previous £2.54 million grant in November last year. If approved, the funds will again come from the £50 million Transport for City Regions allocation. The project includes a new 62,000-seater stadium on the former Wheels site, purchased by club owners Knighthead for £100 million, along with a sports campus, training facilities, academy, community pitches, and leisure, commercial, and residential developments, creating around 8,500 jobs.
Key Transport Projects
The connectivity programme includes Adderley Park Railway Station, the Metro Sports Quarter Extension, the East Birmingham North Solihull Mass Rapid Transit Corridor, and the Birmingham Eastern Ring Road Project. A report to the Investment Committee stated that additional funding is essential to maintain rapid progress.
Regeneration Programme
The Birmingham Sports Quarter is described as a major £3 billion regeneration programme led by international investors. The Rosewell Review and Mayor's Growth Plan recognise its importance, and it falls within the proposed Mayoral Development Zone. A Senior Sponsor Group, including key political leaders, has set a target for transport connectivity to be in place by summer 2031, when the stadium is expected to open.
A key part of the transport offer is a proposed Metro connection to the Sports Quarter, building on work already done for the wider East Birmingham to North Solihull corridor. A Programme Business Case for all elements of the Sports Quarter Connectivity Programme is expected in autumn, aiming to appoint a designer and secure Transport and Works Act Order approval.
The report emphasised the need to maintain a rapid pace and robust quality standards, noting that without this funding, the current pace cannot be sustained until the programme business case is agreed.
