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…

Sandwell Council is starting work on a ‘Tiger Crossing’ and new canal access at Heath Street Smethwick on Monday 16 June. A “tiger crossing” is an informal name for a parallel crossing, a type of pedestrian and cycle crossing that gives priority to both of them. They are designed to allow cyclists to cross a road without dismounting and with priority, alongside pedestrians. They are marked with a zebra crossing for pedestrians and a parallel strip for cyclists. The work, which is scheduled to be complete in August and should cause little or no traffic disruption is part of the…

Shaping Birmingham’s Future Together, a bold vision setting out the shared ambitions of the city, its partners and citizens, and the Corporate Plan setting out the council’s priorities, were approved. Shaping Birmingham’s Future Together (SBFT) approved at full council (17 June 2025) – which is a partnership plan for the next decade – aims to address challenges, grasp opportunities and tackle inequalities Birmingham and its residents face. This vision – produced through consulting and engaging partners and communities across Birmingham and which will be delivered by working closely with city partners – is for Birmingham to be a city that…

Vulnerable families in Birmingham in need of temporary accommodation will benefit from the acquisition of a property in the city. Birmingham City Council has purchased Washington Court, which it intends to use to provide suitable temporary accommodation for several families in need of a home. The council expects to complete the necessary work to prepare the building for use in the latter half of 2026. Once ready, the building will feature dedicated one-on-one support to help families find permanent homes. Councillor Nicky Brennan, cabinet member for housing and homelessness, said: “Providing warm, safe, suitable accommodation for everyone who needs it…

Access to more affordable homes, increased funding for schools and their pupils, and investment in Birmingham’s transport networks are among the Chancellor’s spending priorities. These headlines come from the Government’s Spending Review, which unveiled on 11 June, outlining their spending plans for the next three years. Finance officers are assessing what the Chancellor’s announcement means for the council’s own finances and services and the picture will become clearer later in the year. Cllr John Cotton, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “I welcome this Spending Review, and I’m encouraged the Chancellor has included funding for projects like the extension of…

During Learning Disability Week, Morgan is celebrating his success with his first paid job. This opportunity came about after he completed a Supported Internship which aims to support young people with additional needs into work. A structured study programme combining formal training and work experience, Morgan was placed with the Solihull Connect team for his Supported Internship. Morgan recounted: “I have learned customer service and time management skills, which helps me to support customers with confidence and be on time!” Baillie Carleton, Library Operations Manager, is Morgan’s manager. He shared: “Throughout his placement, Morgan had always made everyone smile. It…

The New Art Gallery Walsall is getting a green makeover as part of a project to cut carbon emissions and reduce energy use, thanks to funding from the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Work is currently underway to replace the Gallery’s old heating system with modern, eco-friendly air source heat pumps. Solar panels will also be installed on the building to help generate clean electricity, along with new double glazing, efficient hot water taps, and other upgrades to make the building use less energy overall. These improvements will make the 25-year-old…

Computer generated image of the proposed fleet services depot at Hickman Avenue City of Wolverhampton Council has submitted a planning application for the redevelopment of its Hickman Avenue site to accommodate a new fleet services depot. If approved, demolition of existing light industrial units, not fit for purpose, could start in winter 2025/26 with construction works beginning in early 2026. The scheme is designed to accommodate the council’s fleet services operation, which is due to relocate from its current Culwell Street depot in the city centre to pave the way for hundreds of new homes as part of the…

(L-R): Outside the new City Learning Quarter college campus as the cladding is exposed. Back row – Wolverhampton City Investment Board Chair, Ninder Johal, City of Wolverhampton College Director of Finance, Paul Davies, City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Development, Jobs and Skills, Cllr Chris Burden, McLaughlin & Harvey Site Manager, Sean Doyle, and Turner & Townsend Senior Project Manager, Neil James. Front row – City of Wolverhampton College students Adela Nwankou (computing), Thomas Ridley (health) and Hilary Temoh Check (computing) The wraps are coming off Wolverhampton’s new City Learning Quarter college campus as the transformative city…