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NEW 'PROSPECTUS FOR GROWTH' REVEALS HOW £500 MILLION OF DEVELOPMENT BY 2010 WILL TRANSFORM WALSALL TOWN CENTRE - 14 November 2006

Walsall Regeneration Company (WRC) today (Tuesday 14 November) unveiled its updated ‘Prospectus for Growth’ outlining how £500 million of investment in the town centre by 2010 will transform the Black Country market town.

The new Prospectus was launched at a packed Business Breakfast Briefing at Austin Court, Birmingham, before more than 180 leading figures from the West Midlands regeneration and development community, and related professional services.

Ben Reid, the WRC chairman, said: “There has been major progress in the transformational regeneration of Walsall since the inaugural Prospectus for Growth was launched in January at the Institute of Directors in London.

“Now, with this updated Prospectus we are ready to kick-on still further and show real delivery of real projects that will make a huge difference to the whole community.

“The market view of Walsall is that it is a town on the up and the number and quality of people attending the breakfast briefing, and the interest shown from others who were unable to attend but who still want to be kept in touch, is testament to that.”

Regeneration milestones since January 2006 include:

• Approval for the £100 million Business and Learning Campus, with a new Walsall College and Tesco store
• Planning application submitted by Urban Splash for phase one of the £170 million Walsall Waterfront scheme
• Approval for the £140 million PFI at the Manor Hospital
• Start on site of St. Matthews Quarter, with a major ASDA as the anchor of a £45 million first phase

Ben Reid was joined for Tuesday’s presentation by WRC chief executive Dr Peter Cromar and Councillor Tom Ansell, leader of Walsall Council.

The updated Prospectus for Growth details the transformational projects that will transform Walsall’s economy and its physical environment for the benefit of all the town’s diverse communities.

Ben Reid added: “With a new hospital and college and further investment in the pipeline, we are bang on target with our ambitious goal to establish Walsall as a vibrant  21^st century market town – truly a ‘Town for Enterprise’.”

- Ends -

For further information please contact
Nigel Pipkin or Lorna Bishop at Seal Communications
on 0121 200 0780
or email nigelpipkin@sealcommunications.co.uk

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