The Team

Ben Reid, Chairman Chief Executive of The Midcounties Co-operative, Chair of the Black Country Learning & Skills Council and of Walsall Hospitals NHS Trust.

“Less than two years after launching our first Prospectus the regeneration of Walsall has made stunning progress. ASDA is open. The ring road is being improved. A new Walsall College is underway. And £65 million of proposals at Waterfront North have been approved. Now with consent for the Manor Hospital and Waterfront South there’s a further £200 million of development on the way.” 

Dr Peter Cromar, Chief Executive Cambridge educated, Dr Cromar has a 25-year track record for creating leading edge innovative public-private sector partnerships. A chartered accountant, he has 12 years experience in strategic and high level management in local government and metropolitan authorities.

“With £500 million investment already earmarked to the town centre by 2010, our sights are set on further exciting projects that will attract the international companies, skills and cutting edge technologies that will enable Walsall to once again make a major contribution to both the Black Country and West Midlands economies.” 

Akshay Parikh, Programme Director A banking graduate from City University London, Akshay joined WRC from Future Foundations, where he was Programme Manager. Before that he was Senior Urban Regeneration Manager for Walsall Council.

"There is a spirit of genuine partnership in Walsall. The town’s diverse communities are eagerly playing their part, be it large or small, and are working together to help build a better Walsall, one that they can take pride in but one from which others will benefit too.”.

Founding partners

Urban Regeneration Companies, such as Walsall Regeneration Company, are independent companies, private sector led and driven, but established by the relevant local authority and Regional Development Agency working alongside English Partnerships, with the aim of achieving the radical physical, economic and social transformation of towns and cities in declining urban areas.

Our founding partners are:
	www.advantagewm.co.uk
	www.englishpartnerships.co.uk
	www.walsall.gov.uk

Advantage West Midlands was established by the Government in 1999 along with seven other Regional Development Agencies, to transform England’s regions through sustainable economic development.  All RDAs are non-departmental public bodies that are accountable to the Department of Trade and Industry with a remit for employment growth.

English Partnerships is the government’s national regeneration agency delivering high quality, sustainable growth in England. It achieves this by developing its portfolio of strategic sites and acting as the government’s advisor on brownfield land. It also ensures that surplus public sector assets are used to support wider government objectives, especially those contained in the Sustainable Communities Plan.

Walsall Council is a major employer in the borough, providing a range of key services to citizens.  The council is working with key partners to transform Walsall as a place to work, invest, learn and socialise. By working in partnership, the authority is determined to bring a new vibrancy into the town centre and wider borough with major investments and new buildings. The council continues to deliver significant environmental schemes across the borough and is also looking at the best ways of linking people to increasing employment and training opportunities in Walsall.