Hillfields Objective 2 Action Plan

GOWM praise Hillfields Action Plan during recent monitoring visit - This is a credit to the programme team and to all projects This website is partly funded by the European Union, European Regional Development Fund

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What is Objective 2?

The Objective 2 programme aims to support the economic and social conversion of areas within the West Midlands facing structural difficulties. It offers a real opportunity for the West Midlands to achieve a positive step change in its economic performance through improvements in infrastructure, businesses and industry while also encouraging social regeneration and supporting environmental sustainability.

Under the current programme which runs from 2000 to 2006 the West Midlands has been awarded £575 million and this must be implemented by 2008. £2 billion worth of investment will be triggered by this programme resulting in an additional £1.9 billion net value added to the West Midlands economy. It is anticipated that this programme will result in the creation of some 28,000 new jobs and will safeguard a further 16,000. It is also anticipated that 1,800 new businesses will be created.

Priority 3 - Regenerating communities

This focuses on areas where there is a combination of problems which creates an area of exclusion (unemployment,poor skills, low incomes, poor housing, high crime). It will do this by:
a Developing social capital and enabled communities, b Developing employment opportunities, c Building sustainable and connected neighbourhoods and d Upskilling communities

What is the Hillfields Action Plan?

The Hillfields Action Plan is a framework document that provides the reasons why extra resources are needed to continue the regeneration of Hillfields.

The Action Plan was submitted to Government Office for the West Midlands in July 2002. The Action Plan asked for a grant of £4.6 million from the European Union to support projects between 2002 and 2008. The Action Plan was approved in January 2003 and a call for projects was issued in February 2003. A total of 56 Expressions of Interest were received and 32 of these were invited to submit detailed application forms. Currently there are 24 live projects.

What does it mean for local people?

Approval to the Hillfields Action Plan means that local people will continue to benefit from a wide range of projects to help improve social, economic and environmental conditions in the area. It will make a real difference to Hillfields by:

· Strengthening the local community and fostering community leadership;

· Providing support to local people and helping them realise their potential;

· Giving people living in Hillfields a strong voice and a stake in the future of their neighbourhood;

· Reversing social and economic decline.

By 2008, Hillfields will be a very different place. It will be more attractive, a safer community and one which supports a vibrant population. Poverty will reduce, and more people will have jobs. The neighbourhood will be better connected and local people will be in a stronger position to contribute to the future prosperity of the city as a whole.

The Hillfields Action Plan explains what has already been achieved and where investment is still needed to help realise the vision that local people aspire to:

“Hillfields will be a desirable and positive place to live and to work in; a place that people value and where they are prepared to invest their time, energy and money. People will see Hillfields as “the village community in the heart of the city”

Source: Extract from The Vision for Hillfields