Billion pound investment projects in Sandwell 'on track' despite Covid
Two Sandwell investment projects worth more than a £1 billion are on course to open despite the coronavirus pandemic, the council has said.
The Midland Metropolitan Hospital and the Sandwell Aquatic Centre are set to be completed before the opening of the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in July 2022.
Councillor Paul Moore welcomed news the construction of the £73 million swimming and diving centre was on track, saying: “This is really exciting. This is a world class facility and we will have one of the best in the country and in Europe.”
Both projects will pour £1.07 billion into some of the most deprived wards in the borough.
Members of safer neighbourhoods and active communities scrutiny board were told work on the Aquatic Centre had briefly stopped so safety measures could be put in place for workers. In addition, high winds had delayed construction – but the project was still expected to be completed by February 2022.
The news comes after David Carruthers, acting chief executive of Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Hospitals trust, said the much delayed Midland Metropolitan Hospital would meet its new completion date in Summer 2022
He told a joint committee of Birmingham and Sandwell councillors that despite Covid-19 the project was only 20 days behind schedule.
The hospital is being built in Smethwick and will provide maternity, children’s and inpatient adult services to half a million people. It was originally planned to open in 2018 but stalled after the construction company Carillon went bankrupt.
