A planning application has been submitted to build 12 new council apartments on a disused garage site in Graiseley. Construction partner Keon Homes has put forward the proposals on behalf of City of Wolverhampton Council for the affordable one bedroom homes off Russell Street. The 3 storey development, with ground floor wheelchair accessible apartments, would also border Zoar Street and Merridale Street – just a short distance from the city centre. Demolition of the derelict garages, that have been blighted by anti-social behaviour, has already been approved and is expected to take place later in this year. City of Wolverhampton…

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is now upgrading the range of apps for the current versions of the ID. Buzz, Caddy, Multivan, California and Crafter with the first games console developed for vehicles: the AirConsole In-Car App. The app makes it possible to stream online games while charging or during other breaks, for example. The clever thing here is that passengers’ smartphones act as the controllers. Infotainment as a games console: With the AirConsole, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is significantly upgrading the existing range of onboard games. Up to now, there have been games that are permanently installed on the infotainment system and…

Sandwell Council is currently running a Community Grant Scheme for projects which get people walking, wheeling, or cycling. It’s open to charities, community groups and schools. You can apply for up to £15,000 before the grant closes on 30 June 2025. Guidance and the online application form can be found here. Successful groups will be informed on the week commencing 7 July and project delivery, monitoring and reporting will need to be completed by 15 September 2025.

Birmingham City Council is backing the UK-wide campaign for Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Awareness Week 2025, taking place from 30 June to 6 July. The campaign aims to raise awareness of the impact of ASB, support victims, and promote stronger, safer neighbourhoods for all. The week, led by community safety organisation Resolve, is supported by the UK Government, Local Government Association, police and fire services, housing providers, and community partners across the country. As part of the city’s contribution to this year’s campaign, Birmingham City Council is launching a series of actions under the theme #MakingCommunitiesSafer, with a strong focus on:…

There аrе usually three grоuрѕ – thоѕе whо lеаd, those whо fоllоw аnd thоѕе whо аrе ѕimрlу рrеѕеnt. You will quickly notice thаt оnе оr twо children аrе thе ones who hаvе thе idеаѕ that оthеr сhildrеn ассерt and fоllоw. Thеѕе аrе thе lеаdеrѕ. Othеrѕ have ideas аnd оffеr ѕuggеѕtiоnѕ аnd оссаѕiоnаllу their idеаѕ аnd suggestions are hоnоrеd, uѕuаllу because thе “leaders” аllоw thеm tо bе. Thiѕ group will gеnеrаllу jоin in аll the асtivitу оf thе group аnd bесоmе the “fоllоwеrѕ.” The сhildrеn in the third group will sometimes jоin thе grоuр as a fоllоwеr and ѕоmеtimеѕ ѕit on…

City of Wolverhampton Council is improving weed control with two new quad bikes. From left are Andrew Harrison, grounds maintenance; Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, cabinet member for resident services; and Matthew Sheffield, grounds maintenance The fight against weeds is revving up a gear as City of Wolverhampton Council uses quad bikes to speed up spraying. Almost 500 miles of the city’s highways and footpaths are currently being treated by the bikes which allow council staff to spray more quickly and efficiently by covering larger areas in less time and targeting weeds more directly. Using the vehicles reduces both time and…

We’re delighted to announce that our colleague Bart Shirm has won the regional RTPI Young Planner of the Year Awards for Planning Excellence 2025! The Royal Town Planning Institute’s award recognises the brightest and most outstanding planners who can demonstrate significant career achievements. Bart clearly showed this through his work to secure funding for the Tipton Town Centre Regeneration project and unlocking housing delivery on brownfield sites. Bart spoke about his career at the council: “I’m honoured to have been named RTPI Young Planner of the Year for the West Midlands. Since moving from the private sector into my role…

Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, cabinet member for resident services at City of Wolverhampton Council, with contact details for the Shop a Tipper scheme City of Wolverhampton Council’s Shop a Tipper scheme has resulted in another successful prosecution for fly tipping – and another gift card for an eagle eyed resident. Following a report of dumped waste in Wednesfield and further information being provided by the witness, the council was able to bring the case to court. As a result, the resident received a £100 Enjoy Wolverhampton gift card for the details they reported through Shop a Tipper. Officers are now…

Solihull Family Hubs are launching a new outreach hub located in Meriden. Whilst not a dedicated Family Hub building, the outreach hub based at Meriden Church of England Primary School will provide yet another support and activity site for children and families in Solihull. Meriden CofE Primary School is the second Family Hub outreach location in Solihull, with the first outreach hub being situated at Shirley Heath Junior School since November 2024. Leader of Solihull Council, Councillor Karen Grinsell, welcomed the news: “I’m delighted to see the Family Hubs continuing to grow and expand their presence to help more and…

Birmingham City Council is backing a national campaign to reduce knife crime by encouraging residents to surrender dangerous weapons anonymously and safely. As part of the national knife surrender scheme running from 1 to 31 July 2025, residents are urged to dispose of knives and other dangerous weapons using dedicated surrender bins across Birmingham, designated police stations, and a mobile van unit – all without fear of prosecution. In Birmingham, a mobile weapons surrender van will be stationed at Handsworth Park car park on Wednesday 2 July from 9am to 12pm. Residents can surrender knives and any other dangerous weapons…