The Wednesbury Levelling Up Partnership Board met to discuss the progress of ongoing projects, address challenges, and plan for the future of the Levelling Up Partnership (LUP) programme in Wednesbury. The board endorsed changes to project timelines for the Hydes Road Pavillion and Millennium Centre projects, reviewed options for replacing stolen solar lighting, and received updates on the Friar Park Urban Village development and public health initiatives. The board also discussed feedback from the Public Realm consultation and engagement activity, and endorsed the Communication and Engagement Sub-group action log.

Levelling Up Partnership Programme Overview

The Wednesbury Levelling Up Partnership (WLUP) is part of a wider government initiative to invest in towns and communities, and Councillor Peter Hughes, Cabinet Member for Regeneration & Infrastructure, is responsible for the programme. The board received an update on the progress of the LUP programme, including individual project reports on the Public Realm, Green Spaces, and Millennium Centre projects. They also received updates on public health delivery, and financial risks and issues.

Since the last report to the WLUP Board, key achievements have been:

• Appointment of Friar Park Urban Village Development Partner
• Compilation of the Community Safety Evaluation and Impact report
• Completion of the main phase of the public realm improvements
• Start on site and completion of remediation works at High Bullen car park
• Building improvement grant contracts signed
• A decision by the board on an option for Millennium Centre delivery
• Repair work to ground conditions at Balls Hill
• Approval of the Monitoring and Evaluation Framework
• Completion of remediation of the former Spires Site

Project Change Requests

The board endorsed changes to the project end dates for the Green Spaces ¹ and Millennium Centre projects, recommending their approval by the Assistant Director Spatial Planning and Growth in consultation with the Council's S151 Officer².

• Hydes Road Pavillion: The start date was moved from September 2025 to October 2025, and the project end date from March 2026 to July 2026, due to delays relating to ecological surveys, mineshaft discoveries, and treatment timescales.
• Millennium Centre: The start date was moved from August 2025 to September 2025, and the completion date from March 2026 to April 2026, due to an additional survey required to discharge a planning condition.

Solar Lighting Options

Following repeated thefts of solar lights installed in five locations as part of the green spaces and community safety projects, the board considered alternative options for solar lighting replacements. The options included:

1. Do nothing: Taking no further action, which would avoid additional costs but could reduce deterrence against future vandalism.
2. Reinstall solar lighting with enhanced support measures: Reinstalling the lights with a targeted communications plan and collaboration with partner agencies, at an estimated cost of £10,000.
3. Install enhanced solar street lighting: Installing grid-free solar street lighting on 6-metre columns, at an estimated cost of £75,000.
4. Install solar paint: Applying solar paint on footways, at an estimated cost of £4,000.

The board provided an initial steer on the options, noting that any decision would depend on the availability of LUP funding from project underspend.

Friar Park Urban Village Update

The board received an update on the Friar Park Urban Village project, including the appointment of Keepmoat as the development partner³. Representatives from Keepmoat attended the meeting to introduce themselves and their proposals for the remediation of the site, and to outline their approach to communication and engagement with residents.

Public Realm Consultation Feedback

The board received feedback from a consultation on the impact of public realm and urban greening work in Wednesbury Town Centre. The consultation, which ran from 21 June to 31 August 2025, sought to understand perceptions of the improvements made to date. Key findings from the consultation included:

• The public realm works have visibly improved the town centre's appearance and accessibility.
• Patterns of use remain broadly unchanged.
• Satisfaction was generally positive, with 44.7% of respondents saying they were satisfied or very satisfied with the improvements.
• Safety and wellbeing impacts are seen as limited.

Communication and Engagement

The board endorsed the update on communication and engagement activities and the forward plan of communication activity. Since the last report, communication and engagement activity has included:

• Video release to launch community safety scheme
• Public Realm launch of main phase with planting in Ethelfleda Square
• Publicity on the completion of Wyntor Lane, Lakeside and Balls Hill Open Spaces
• Announcement of development partner for Friar Park Urban Village Remediation

The board also endorsed the Communication and Engagement Sub-group action log.

Forward Plan

The board endorsed the WLUP Board forward plan, which included a social value update and a review of financial risk across the programme at the next meeting.