The Rowley Regis Town Deal Board is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, 23 September 2025, to review the progress of projects funded by the Towns Fund Programme and to discuss upcoming press releases and site visits. The board will receive updates on live projects and project performance reports for April to June 2025. The meeting is not open to the public, but the agenda is available.

Project Updates and Reporting

The Rowley Regis Town Deal Board is expected to receive updates on several key projects:

• Blackheath Bus Interchange: The board will receive updates on the Blackheath Bus Interchange, where phase 1 of night works concluded in May 2025, and phase 2 began shortly after. According to the minutes of the last meeting held on 15 May 2025, there had been some disruption to bus routes and waiting times as a result of the works, and the project team were scheduled to meet with bus operators to seek confirmation of bus routes and any effects, as well as some supporting comms to be shared with the residents, businesses and traders.
• Rowley Regis Connected: The board will receive updates on the Rowley Regis Connected project, which aims to improve connectivity in the area. The original project consisted of three phases: Moor Lane, Oldbury and Cradley Heath. According to the minutes of the last meeting, Moor Lane and Oldbury are complete, but Cradley Heath is currently under time pressure following some delays in redesign and consultation period. The board will also receive an update on Wrights Lane, where works are aimed to start in Summer 2025.
• Cradley Heath Skills Campus: The board will receive updates on the Cradley Heath Skills Campus, where construction is going well and is on track. According to the minutes of the last meeting, the college are in discussion to trial provision delivery during the Summer (August) and are in advanced conversation with WMCA[^2], however there is some existing resource to support early delivery. [^2]: The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is a combined authority for the West Midlands metropolitan county in England.
• Rowley Regis Park Improvements: The board will receive updates on the Rowley Regis Park Improvements (previously Britannia Park), where the changing rooms construction is now complete. According to the minutes of the last meeting, the Skate Park Work is currently in process with Procurement and aims to go out to tender this month (May). The Sons of Rest Refurbishment is due to start on site imminently with an aim to complete September 2025, and the Toddler Play area is in process with procurement, with an aim to start on site in September 2025.

The board will also receive a report on project progress and monitoring information for the period of April to June 2025. According to the report, the Programme Management Office received monitoring returns for the period of 1 April – 30 June on 10 July 2025. Project returns have been processed and collated as a presentation for the Town Deal Board to review in September 2025.

The report also includes a financial summary, which shows that the forecast for 2025/26 as per claim returns (q1) is £11,243,440.44, and the slippage is -0.26%.

Forward Plans

The board is scheduled to discuss upcoming press releases and site visits. The Press Plan document details the following planned activity:

• Rowley Regis Parks Improvement: A press release is planned to coincide with the Sons of Rest Opening.
• Canal Network: A press release/opening event is planned to mark the completion of Wrights Bridge/project delivery.
• Cradley Heath Skills Campus: A press release is planned to announce that the campus is now open.
• Blackheath Bus Interchange: A press release is planned to announce that works are complete.
• Rowley Regis Connected: A press release is planned to announce that the project is complete.

Other Business

The agenda includes an item for any other business raised by members for discussion.