The Overview & Scrutiny Committee of the West Midlands Combined Authority met on Monday 30 March 2026 to discuss a range of significant issues. Key topics scheduled for consideration included addressing systemic barriers to housing-led regeneration, an update on the WMCA Homelessness Taskforce, and progress on the Connect to Work programme. The committee was also set to receive updates on the West Midlands Investment Zone and the Building Safety Remediation Acceleration Plan.

Housing Delivery: Addressing Systemic Barriers to Housing Led Regeneration

The committee was scheduled to review how the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is addressing systemic barriers to housing-led regeneration. This discussion was intended to inform a region-wide strategic framework that supports brownfield-first, place-based development, aligning with the WMCA's devolved powers and investment priorities. The report highlighted that housing is a critical foundation for residents' quality of life and a key driver of regeneration. Mayor of the West Midlands, Richard Parker, has prioritised Homes for Everyone, aiming to ensure everyone has a place to call home, with a focus on creating vibrant communities and delivering more social and affordable housing.

The report detailed several barriers to housing-led regeneration, including the high costs and risks associated with remediating derelict and contaminated brownfield sites, as well as rising construction and build costs due to inflation, economic uncertainty, and regulatory changes. Fragmented land ownership and the challenges faced by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) were also identified.

To address these issues, the WMCA has secured £557 million in devolved grant funding since the 2018 West Midlands Housing Deal. This funding is delivered through a commercial model designed to incentivise brownfield development and address market failure. The report noted that £270 million of grant funding has been approved to support schemes unlocking over 12,000 homes, with 34% projected to be affordable tenures. Case studies on Lockside in Walsall and Smithgate in Wolverhampton were included to illustrate the impact of WMCA's intervention. The report also discussed the importance of place-based approaches, partnerships with organisations like Homes England, and initiatives to support SMEs and revenue funding for pre-development costs.

WMCA Homelessness Taskforce Update

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the work and progress of the WMCA Homelessness Taskforce. The report highlighted that while Local Authorities retain statutory duties for preventing and relieving homelessness, Mayoral Combined and Strategic Authorities like the WMCA provide strategic leadership and convene partners to coordinate responses. The Taskforce's objective is to design out homelessness by improving how service systems respond to people's needs and connect with each other.

Key achievements in 2025 were detailed, including links with the Mayor's Homes and Jobs Taskforces to ensure synergy and an integrated approach. The Taskforce has also worked with academics to strengthen the definition of Universal Prevention and supported the Office of Public Service Innovation (OPSI) Homelessness Sprint process. Specific workstreams focused on Children, Families and Young People, including contributions to the West Midlands Social and Affordable Homes Programme and research into the Private Rented Sector's role in preventing homelessness. The report also detailed the conclusion of the WMCA Rough Sleeping Initiative (RSI) Programme, which invested over £2.7 million between 2020 and 2025, supporting 6,381 individuals. Further funding has been secured through the Rough Sleeping Prevention and Recovery Grant (RSPARG).

The report also provided an overview of the national context, including the Government's National Plan to End Homelessness, published in December 2025. This plan outlines five core pillars: Universal Prevention, Targeted Prevention, Preventing Crisis, Improving Emergency Responses, and Recovery and Preventing Repeat Homelessness. The report detailed the functional responsibilities of Mayoral Combined and Strategic Authorities within this national framework, which include setting regional ambition, encouraging preventative approaches, convening partners, and delivering region-specific interventions.

Connect to Work Programme Update

The committee was scheduled to review an update on the Connect to Work (CtW) programme, funded through the Integrated Settlement 2025/26. This programme, part of the Department for Work and Pensions' (DWP) Get Britain Working strategy, provides personalised employment support for disabled people, those with long-term health conditions, and other disadvantaged groups with complex barriers to employment.

The CtW programme is strategically aligned with West Midlands Works and aims to integrate employment, skills, and health pathways through multi-agency hubs. It seeks to eradicate health and wider barriers to work, offering up to 12 months of ongoing support. The programme is delivered through two nationally recognised Supported Employment models: Individual Placement Support (IPS) and Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF).

A total of £5.72 million was allocated to the WMCA for CtW for the 2025/26 period, aiming to engage and support between 950 to 1400 residents. Multi-year funding has been confirmed, with a further £54.9 million allocated to deliver CtW across the WMCA region over the next three years, supporting an additional 16,668 residents. The report highlighted the significant need for CtW in the West Midlands, with high rates of economic inactivity and youth unemployment. Early performance data indicated that 562 individuals had been referred for support, with 523 starting their journey. The main health barriers reported by young people were Autism, Depression/Anxiety, and Learning Difficulties.

West Midlands Investment Zone Update

The committee was scheduled to receive a comprehensive overview and update on the West Midlands Investment Zone (WMIZ) during its initial two years of delivery. The report aimed to inform members of the progress made, key developments, and the current status of the programme. The second year of WMIZ delivery focused on ensuring all capital and revenue programmes were operational and that the WMIZ was embedded into wider regional economic interventions.

Significant progress was reported at the three key sites: Birmingham Knowledge Quarter (B-KQ), Coventry & Warwick Investment Zone (CWIZ), and Wolverhampton Green Innovation Corridor (GIC). At B-KQ, a Strategic Delivery Framework was being developed, and the proposal for a Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) could accelerate delivery. At CWIZ, £23 million was awarded for energy supply enhancements and infrastructure works, attracting significant investor interest. GIC had completed all capital activities associated with its Strategic Outline Case, with procurement underway for the Six Mile Green project.

Regional programmes were also making strides. The Equity Fund reached a milestone with the final payment to Midlands Mindforge Ltd (MML), supporting innovative businesses. The Supply Chain Transition programme was facilitating workshops, technical support, and grant funding for local businesses, although early delays in contracting had impacted outputs. The Skills programme held workshops across Coventry, Birmingham, and Wolverhampton to shape the skills proposition, with a Job Rotation pilot scheduled to launch in April 2026. WMGC's Investment and Promotion work had generated 90 leads and 46 opportunities, with promotional materials and event representation at key trade events. Business Rate Retention (BRR) management was also developing, with formal Deeds executed with Warwick, Warwickshire, and Coventry, and a similar agreement with Birmingham nearing completion.

Building Safety in the West Midlands (Remediation Acceleration Plan)

The committee was scheduled to note and provide comments on the regional approach to delivering the West Midlands Remediation Plan. Following the conclusion of Phase II of the Grenfell Inquiry, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) requested all Mayoral Strategic Authorities to develop Local Remediation Acceleration Plans. The West Midlands Remediation Acceleration Plan (WMRAP) sets out a coordinated programme of regional, partner-led interventions to accelerate the remediation of unsafe residential buildings.

The plan, finalised in January 2026, focuses on three key priorities: Fix buildings faster, Identify buildings with unsafe cladding, and Support our residents. The report highlighted that the WMCA had received funding for 2025/26 and confirmed further allocation for 2026/27. Interventions included bolstering enforcement capacity for delivery partners, establishing a Primary Authority Partnership with West Midlands Fire & Rescue Service (WMFRS), and establishing a tiered governance structure. Data management through the National Remediation System database was also a key focus.

The report detailed five key remediation objectives: driving and monitoring progress, coordinating intervention activity, working effectively with MHCLG/CSS and delivery partners, creating a trustworthy data set, and advocating for residents. Evidence presented indicated a significant challenge in the West Midlands, with 715 known 11m+ buildings, incomplete national datasets, and many buildings not yet within government programmes. The report also outlined the status of the West Midlands in terms of remediation progress compared to the national average, highlighting a higher percentage of completed works but also a significant number of buildings with unsafe cladding that were not yet remediated or in a government scheme.

Work Programme

The committee was scheduled to consider its work programme and the WMCA Board Forward Plan of items to be considered at future meetings. This included a review of the Annual Review Letter 2024-25 from the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, updates on the West Midlands Investment Zone, the Connect to Work Programme, the WMCA Homelessness Taskforce, and Housing Delivery. Future reports were also listed, including the State of the Region Report and an Integrated Settlement Progress Report.