Leaders to meet at West Midlands Growth Conference

The West Midlands Forum for Growth Conference will bring together leaders from the public and private sectors to debate details of a "route map for growth and development in the West Midlands".

Building new homes, regenerating derelict sites and improving transport links will all be on the agenda as hundreds of delegates from across the West Midlands meet to try and identify the key issues to create growth in the region – and the problems that could get in the way.

In addition to West Midlands Mayor Andy Street, speakers will include the chairman of the Midlands Engine initiative, Sir John Peace, and the chairman of the Government's Homes and Communities Agency, Sir Eddie Lister.

The conference will also showcase six major West Midlands regeneration projects worth a total of more than £4 billion, incorporating around 10,000 new homes and two million square metres of mixed developments.

The event takes place on September 6 at the Vox Conference Centre, at Restorts World Birmingham, with around 350 people already signed up to attend.

Sir Eddie Lister, Tony Pidgley from housebuilders Berkely Group and Birmingham council's regeneration director Waheed Nazir will be talking about how to provide more homes in the region, with the new chief executive of the West Midlands Combined Authority, Deborah Cadman.

The chief executives of Birmingham City, Coventry City and Wolverhampton councils and the Black County Consortium will be discussing what the West Midlands needs to compete on the global stage.

There will also be representatives from companies such as Jaguar Land Rover and the London Electric Vehicle Company talking about how the region can support industrial growth.

The event is the official conference of the West Midlands Combined Authority and has been organised by conference company Movers & Shakers. Managing director Leigh Salter said: “It is great to be able to confirm this impressive programme of speakers and content for attendees of the conference.

"The West Midlands has a very important role to play in the growth of the UK economy and it is a region that is seeing huge levels of investment and an exciting array of projects underway.

"Providing a platform for key stakeholders, local authorities and government members to come together and talk about the major issues facing the region and the big things that need to happen to support growth and delivery is imperative, and we are delighted to be able to provide that forum.”