Residents across the West Midlands can anticipate significant progress on long-awaited transport links, housing developments, and major regeneration sites throughout 2026, according to the region's Mayor.
Transport and Housing at the Forefront
West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker has set out his priorities for the coming year, with a sharp focus on delivering tangible improvements in transport, housing, and job creation. He confirmed that five new railway stations in Birmingham and Walsall, now construction-complete, are scheduled to begin serving passengers in the new year.
Furthermore, work on the first phase of the Midland Metro extension to Dudley is also expected to be finished. On the housing front, the Mayor reported that 3,000 homes were delivered in 2025, with a target of 5,000 new homes for 2026.
Boosting High Streets and Investment Zones
A key personal agenda for Mayor Parker is the revival of the region's struggling high streets. He plans to launch a mayor's fund to support investment and transformation, working with partners to increase footfall in town centres.
"I want to make sure what I'm doing has relevance to our communities," Parker stated, announcing a series of events for 2026 focused on driving more visitors to high streets and markets. Progress is also accelerating in the region's Investment Zones, with £7 million from the Combined Authority and £20 million from City of Wolverhampton Council kickstarting clearance work in the Wolverhampton Green Corridor.
Navigating the Political Landscape
The Mayor acknowledged a potential challenge on the horizon linked to the 'all out' council elections in May 2026 in Birmingham, Coventry, Sandwell, Solihull, and Walsall. Should the Reform party perform well and take control of local authorities, their leaders would sit on the West Midlands Combined Authority Board.
While pledging to work with any elected officials, Parker expressed concern over some Reform policies, citing previous comments from figures like Richard Tice and Nigel Farage about scrapping HS2 and trade deals. "I don't want them doing anything that will be detrimental to the people or the economy we're building here," he said.
Other key initiatives for 2026 include advancing a Mayoral Development Corporation to streamline major projects in areas like Digbeth and the Birmingham Sports Quarter, and a continued push on active travel, including 'kid's streets' to improve safety outside schools.
