The Investment Board of West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) met on Monday 22 June 2026 to discuss a range of significant investment programmes and funding initiatives. Key decisions included the approval of funding for the East Birmingham to Solihull Mass Rapid Transit Corridor and the Sports Quarter Connectivity Programme, as well as the allocation of substantial funds for a Supported Housing Funding Programme aimed at tackling homelessness.

Investment Programme Update

The board received an update on the WMCA Investment Programme, noting that as of 31 March 2026, approved grant funding awarded and administered by the WMCA totals £847.3 million. Since the previous meeting, four change requests have been approved under delegated authority. These included time extensions and reallocation of funds for projects such as the UGC Business Plan Operating Costs (now UKC Hub Operating Costs and Project Support) in Solihull, Kingshurst regeneration, the Balsall Common Transport Package, and land remediation in Walsall.

The Investment Programme dashboard, covering 84 projects, indicated that 41 projects have reached completion of the stage funded by the investment programme. Eight schemes were flagged with a RED status due to predicted expiry dates not being within allocated funding, requiring change requests. A notable discussion point was the Metro Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Extension Phase 1, which, despite construction being complete, was experiencing delays in its testing and commissioning phase. Ed Bradburn, Chief Executive of WMCA, explained that these delays were due to safety testing and acknowledged historical issues with transport project delivery timelines, highlighting the need for a more staged approach to funding commitment.

The board noted the confirmation from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government that the WMCA had met the required standards for the 2025/26 Investment Programme Annual Review, and the 2026/27 annual payment had been received.

Commercial Investment Fund, Brownfield Land & Property Development Fund, and Residential Investment Fund Dashboards

Updates were provided on the Commercial Investment Fund (CIF), Brownfield Land & Property Development Fund (BLPDF), and Residential Investment Fund (RIF). These funds are repayable loan funds, not grants, managed by West Midlands Development Capital and promoted externally by Frontier Development Capital.

The CIF has lent over £400 million to date, with no provisions or losses recorded. The BLPDF has allocated £50 million, which has leveraged £201 million in private sector investment. The RIF has committed £66.7 million and drawn £44.1 million, with a total of 1,725 homes created. The dashboards showed the total committed loan amounts and drawn amounts for various projects across the West Midlands, detailing metrics such as jobs created, brownfield land remediated, homes created, commercial floor space, and business rates generated.

Supported Housing Funding Programme 2026-29

The board was asked to approve proposals for a Supported Housing Funding Programme, part of the existing Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Programme from 2026-29. This programme is allocated £18.27 million nationally from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, with £18.266 million designated for activity in Birmingham and Coventry. The funding aims to increase the supply and quality of supported accommodation to prevent and reduce rough sleeping.

The preferred option was to passport the funding directly to Birmingham City Council and Coventry City Council, who have existing commissioning frameworks and local knowledge. Birmingham is set to receive £13.4 million for activity, and Coventry £4.47 million, with £395,000 retained by WMCA for pan-regional coordination. This approach was chosen to maximise funding reaching frontline services and avoid duplication. Neelam Sunder, Head of Designing out Homelessness at WMCA, explained that Birmingham's higher allocation reflects its greater needs, with a focus on intensive support for individuals with complex needs. Concerns were raised by Councillor Chris Garghan about rough sleeping on borders between local authorities, and how this funding would address such issues, with assurances given about existing reconnection protocols and the development of regional strategies.

East Birmingham to Solihull / Sports Quarter Funding Draw Down

Approval was sought for the draw down of up to £5.747 million from the Transport for City Regions (TCR) development funding to progress the East Birmingham to Solihull Mass Rapid Transit Corridor and associated Sports Quarter Connectivity Programme activities. This funding is crucial to maintain the pace of work required for the Sports Quarter development, including a new stadium, which is targeted for opening in Summer 2031.

Liam Brooker, Head of Sponsorship at WMCA, outlined that this funding would support essential preparatory work, including design development, business case completion, consultation, and statutory processes for a potential Metro extension. The funding is part of a larger £50 million TCR advance allocation. Councillor Dave Pinwell expressed a preference for seeing a broader strategic picture before committing funds, but ultimately agreed to the recommendation to avoid delays, with the caveat of receiving future briefings on funding streams and outputs. Councillor Stephen Simkins, Chair of the Investment Board, highlighted the importance of integrated transport systems and the need for clear oversight and project management, particularly given the multiple partners involved.

The board approved the recommendations, allowing for the draw down of the funding to progress these critical infrastructure projects.