At a glance

The Black Country Chamber of Commerce has welcomed a £10 million Government investment aimed at revitalising high streets in the region, announced by West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker. The fund is part of broader efforts to rejuvenate town centres and includes measures to regulate vape and betting shops. Chamber CEO Sarah Moorhouse emphasised the importance of sustained government support for local businesses to ensure thriving local economies.

Black Country Chamber of Commerce CEO Sarah Moorhouse today welcomed a £10m Government investment in the region’s high streets and urged the Prime Minister to back the businesses behind them.

A new £10m High Streets and Growth Incubator Fund was announced by West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker to help rejuvenate town centres as the Government also announced a crackdown on vape and betting shops.

Sarah Moorhouse said Prime Minister Andy Burnham has stayed true to his word in handing more money to regional mayors - but also asked for sustained backing of the region’s SMEs.

Mr Burnham, who has already pledged a host of cost of living and financial measures in the first few weeks in office, was in the Midlands as part of his tour of the UK while the government is in recess.

Following the latest announcement, the Chamber CEO, who recently penned an open letter to the new Prime Minister, said: “My message to him is that we’re investing, we’re growing and we want the government alongside us in that.

“If our businesses here in the Black Country are backed, they will deliver on the Prime Minister’s ambitions to have thriving local economies across the UK.

“If there is investment in the economy across the region, in both businesses and jobs, then thriving high streets will follow.

“The £10m announcement and the Prime Minister’s visit is a positive step, it shows the government is listening to businesses here. What matters now is that this investment is turned into sustained backing for the Black Country economy.

“Our high streets are already a real strength for this region - and what would help is for the Government to work with us in building on that through consistent investment.

“There have already been positive steps when it comes to bus fare caps, VAT cuts on electricity and business rate relief for hospitality.”

“There has been urgency with that from the Prime Minister in his first few weeks and we want that to continue.”

The news comes amid a number of investments being made locally to boost the Black Country economy.

Extensions to the Metro and Dudley interchange will open this year, adding 14 stops between Dudley and Sandwell, including direct links to the zoo, castle and Black Country Living Museum.

Elsewhere, a £300k support package is going into the town centre, alongside £150k grants for shops and businesses around the new interchange.

The West Midlands Combined Authority will now work alongside the West Midlands Growth Company and councils in Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton, before a further funding announcement is made.

The investment comes as the Prime Minister announced further measures to revive the UK’s high streets.

New moves will require new vape shops to obtain planning permission, with councils handed more powers to block new betting shops.

The measures are designed to give councils more powers to control what businesses open in town centres.

Editorial insight

Government funding for high street regeneration has long been a focus for regional business groups, but the latest £10m commitment to the Black Country comes at a time of renewed political attention on local economies. With the Prime Minister visiting the region and the West Midlands Mayor announcing the new fund, the move signals a push to address concerns over the future of town centres and the mix of businesses operating in them.

For local businesses and councils, the fund offers immediate support, but Chamber leaders are keen to emphasise the need for consistent, long-term backing to drive wider economic growth. The combination of direct investment, infrastructure upgrades, and new planning controls on vape and betting shops is likely to be closely watched by other regions seeking similar support. As local authorities gain more powers to shape their high streets, the practical impact of these measures will depend on how funding is allocated and whether it leads to sustained business confidence across the Black Country.

Story ideas and journalist angles

Investment/funding

The Political Significance of Prime Minister’s Economic Pledges in the West Midlands

Investigate the political motivations and implications behind the Prime Minister's economic initiatives in the West Midlands, including the £10m fund and other financial measures, within the context of his broader national strategy.

Target audience Political analysis platforms, national newspapers Story potential 6/10 Regional impact

Impact of £10m Investment on Black Country’s Local Economy

Explore how the £10m High Streets and Growth Incubator Fund will specifically impact the local economy of the Black Country, focusing on projected benefits for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and community development.

Target audience Regional news outlets, local business journals Story potential 8/10