Chapter 5: Conclusions and Next Steps
The West Midlands is set for a ten-year programme of economic transformation. Our unrivalled connectivity to the rest of the country. The youthfulness of our population and future workforce. Our leading investment record. The sheer scale of our economy and potential to grow further. These are the strengths that will power our future success.
We know what success would look like. Higher living standards across the region. Higher productivity of the region. More people in employment. Residents living healthier lives. The region playing a leadership role in reaching net zero, seizing the opportunities it offers us.
We know what we need to do to achieve it. We are clear-eyed about our strengths and challenges—the foundation of our theory of growth and West Midlands Growth Plan—and will focus our collective resources, partnerships and capabilities as a region on gripping them.
Our strategy is rooted in place. Corridors of investment opportunity across the region will transform the economies of our cities and boroughs, brought together in Place-Based Strategies. Our spatial development strategy will explain how our theory of growth and approach to ‘place’ comes together at the West Midlands level.
We will be bold in our approach to delivering systems change. Nothing short of it will be required if we are to realise the full potential of our residents—through a programme of public service innovation—and play a leadership role in seizing the opportunities of the net zero transition.