World class offices, a new square for West Bromwich town centre as well as a new road paving the way for a whole new business estate at Hill Top are among the early projects unveiled by RegenCo.
"Bringing about a transformation of a whole area is, by nature, slow but I'm delighted to report that just over two years into our remit, we already have some early successes," said Ros Kerslake, chief executive of the urban regeneration company responsible for West Bromwich, Smethwick and Hill Top.
"We now have solid plans for bringing world-class offices back to West Bromwich," she added.
"The last time we saw those built was back in the 1970s with Intersection House -where we're based now. We're assembling a perfectlypositioned site at the first island off the Expressway as you leave M5 at Junction 1.
"We've named the former Sandwell Homes Depot site All Saints. If you consider rents around here are only £10 to £12 at the moment, we believe these could lift to £16 and still compare very favourably with Birmingham rents. Junctions 3 and 2 have their office parks, it's now junction 1's turn."
David Higson from Challinors said: "We've been based in West Bromwich for nearly 100 years. It's an excellent base from which to do business.
"We seem to get the best of both worlds being just down the road or tramline from Birmingham and also at the gateway to the Black Country.
"The prospect of having better office accommodation would encourage more professional organisations into the locality and encourage economic growth for all those involved. We see this as the final brick in the wall, into making West Bromwich a vibrant professional centre."
Ros Kerslake continued: "Building has started on the new square linking Queen's Square with The Public and Tesco-led development.
"You can already see how it's going to give West Bromwich town centre a proper heart and focal point. It's due to be completed by autumn this year. It will be the first, physical evidence of the difference we're making - we saw the need for it, helped design it as well as played a role in its funding and implementation.
"We've worked with SMBC to downgrade all the roads surrounding the square to create a relaxed atmosphere where people will enjoy sitting and watching the world go by. It's a sizeable area suitable for markets and street entertainers. The high quality design and materials really set the standard for others to follow."
Allan Lockhart of developers Halladale also said: "The new Queen's Square proposals follow the positive lead given to the regeneration of West Bromwich town centre by Sand-well Council and RegenCo. West Bromwich town centre has an exciting future and the new Queen's Square will complement the proposed new Tesco-led development, as well as blending in well with The Public."
RegenCo also announced that it had clinched £800,000 of funding for two, detailed, implementation studies on several projects including the designing of a new road to open up Hill Top and pave the way for a new business park there.
Among RegenCo's other early plans are bringing forward a major new business park at Junction 1, aspirational housing and plans for a learning village with a university presence.
