The Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield has been confirmed, as one of 75 towns to receive £20 million of funding over the next 10 years, in the Government’s announcement this week on its Plan for Neighbourhoods.
The Plan for Neighbourhoods is the renamed and revised programme for the previous Government’s Long Term Plan for Towns Fund.
Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council was also confirmed in the House of Commons by Alex Norris MP, Minister for Housing, Communities and Local Government as the local body with responsibility for the funding and delivery of the programme. This was in response to a question from the Royal Town’s MP Andrew Mitchell. The Town Council is the only town/parish council in the country to fulfil that role for the Plan for Neighbourhoods Fund, which highlights Government’s confidence in Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council and Government’s support for town and parish councils.
A Neighbourhood Board, with members from many walks of life in the town, is being finalised that will be responsible for producing a Plan that will set out funding priorities across Royal Sutton Coldfield. The remit of the Plan is broad and an extensive programme of engagement will be launched with residents. The funding will be split 75% capital and 25% revenue with delivery investment funding commencing in 2026.
Cllr Simon Ward, Leader of Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council:
“We are delighted that the Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield has been reconfirmed to receive the £20 million funding allocated by the previous government, and that Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council will be the accountable body responsible for the delivery of the fund. As the only Town Council given this responsibility we should be rightly proud of this endorsement. I would like to pay tribute to the Town Council team and to Andrew Mitchell MP for their brilliant efforts. This is a fantastic opportunity for our Royal Town and will enable significant improvements to be made across Royal Sutton Coldfield.”
Further details around the Town Board and of the first stages of the development if projects to be delivered as part of the Plan will be released in the coming weeks.