Gurdip Thandi

Two Solihull housing schemes have been delayed and classified as “red rated” by the West Midlands Combined Authority Investment Board. Middlewood House, planned to deliver 23 affordable net-zero homes, needs an additional £450,000 and a completion extension to June 2027. The Rowood Drive scheme, which would create 33 homes on a former council-owned playing field, is expected to run until August 2028 and still requires a development partner. The wider Accelerated Housing Delivery programme has been pushed back to 2032 and needs a further £424,000, despite £2.68 million of its £2.82 million allocation already being claimed.

The A46 Stoneleigh Junction improvement scheme near Coventry and Kenilworth has been delayed until September 2027, five years beyond its original deadline, while estimated costs have risen from £38 million to £58 million. Delays have been attributed to difficulties sourcing embankment materials and a contractual dispute with the main contractor. Coventry councillor Lynnette Kelly called the situation ridiculous and warned that the unfinished junction is causing continuing traffic problems. Warwickshire County Council said four major bridge support walls have been completed and that construction is making tangible progress.

The West Midlands Combined Authority is taking over National Express West Midlands’ bus operations to protect hundreds of services and thousands of jobs ahead of the region’s move to franchising. Birmingham Conservatives argue the deal transfers the company’s costs and liabilities to taxpayers while allowing National Express to compete for future contracts without its previous risks. Mayor Richard Parker says not intervening could have led to major service withdrawals and job losses, and argues the buyout will safeguard the network and make the transition to franchising more orderly.

The West Midlands Combined Authority will acquire National Express’s entire regional bus operation from parent company Mobico Group for £24 million, with UK Government backing. The takeover, covering about 94% of bus services in the region, is intended to prevent major route withdrawals and protect thousands of jobs while supporting the transition to a franchised network. Unite welcomed the move, calling it an end to the risk posed by a single private operator and saying it will seek to preserve workers’ existing terms and conditions.

The West Midlands Combined Authority has approved the acquisition of National Express West Midlands’ entire regional bus operation from parent company Mobico Group. The deal covers about 1,300 buses, nine depots and 4,800 staff, with services, fares and timetables expected to continue unchanged during the autumn handover. The operation will be held by West Midlands Bus Limited as an arm’s-length WMCA subsidiary while the authority proceeds with its bus-franchising programme. The acquisition is intended to protect the region’s largest bus network, passengers, jobs and service stability, with £11.5 million in government support for transaction costs.

Sarao Estates has pleaded not guilty to eight charges under the Housing Act 2004 relating to two neighbouring properties on Dolphin Road in Tyseley, Birmingham. The properties contain six flats that prosecutors allege lacked the required individual licences and had not been properly reported to Birmingham City Council. Managing director Sumeet Singh Sarao said the houses had licences, that the company was later told separate flat licences were required, and that the properties are now compliant. The case has been adjourned for trial on January 11, 2027.

The West Midlands Combined Authority Investment Board is set to review delays affecting Solihull’s Accelerated Housing Delivery programme, which seeks to redevelop underused council land and address barriers such as infrastructure, planning and land assembly. The programme’s allocation is proposed to increase by £424,000, while its delivery timetable would be extended to April 2032. Two projects have reached outline business-case stage: 23 affordable net-zero homes at Middlewood House and more than 30 homes at Rowood Drive. Previous change requests stalled while the delivery strategy was reviewed.

7 Star Food and Wine in Birmingham sold a bottle of WKD Blue to a 16-year-old volunteer during a Birmingham City Council trading standards test purchase without checking age or identification. The company pleaded guilty, accepted responsibility, and said staff training, Challenge 25 signage and refusal records were already in place. Birmingham Magistrates’ Court fined the company £154, plus a £62 surcharge and £1,000 in costs.

Mediterranean Pizza in Yardley Wood was fined £4,000, ordered to pay a £1,600 surcharge and £1,937.35 in prosecution costs after failing to provide accurate allergen and ingredient information for food it sold. Birmingham City Council had previously warned the business and provided guidance, but staff were still unable to explain the allergens in a pizza and doner burger during a 2025 inspection. The company’s representatives did not attend Birmingham Magistrates’ Court, although its director cooperated with officers after the offences had occurred.

A project supporting the redevelopment of Chelmsley Wood town centre has been delayed by land-ownership, access and land-assembly problems. The West Midlands Combined Authority allocated £3.434 million for land acquisition, an outline business case and related work, of which £2.88 million has been claimed. Solihull Council has requested a further 36-month extension, potentially moving completion beyond the previous December 2025 deadline, while negotiations with landowners continue. The regeneration plan remains unchanged and requires no additional funding; it aims to introduce leisure facilities, cafes, bars, restaurants, gyms and play areas in phases.

The Solihull Town Centre Public Realm Improvement Scheme requires an additional £148,879 after delays, changing funding conditions and a shift from one large project to a phased approach. The West Midlands Combined Authority and Solihull Council originally approved the scheme in 2019 with a £575,000 budget and a 2022 completion target, later extended to March 2025. Most of the original allocation has been claimed, while the updated outline business case seeks remaining funds through available underspend, subject to match funding and Investment Board approval. The scheme aims to improve pedestrian routes, public squares, green spaces and connections to transport, retail and wider regeneration projects.

Campaigner Ian Shires says Walsall residents receive unequal cancer treatment because Walsall Manor Hospital is the only Black Country hospital without a soft-tissue surgical robot. He argues patients must either undergo traditional surgery or travel to Wolverhampton, and says robotic access would improve recovery and patient experience. NHS leaders acknowledge the need for more equitable provision and are developing a Black Country-wide robotic surgery strategy, while stating that Walsall’s current post-elective-operative hospital stay figures compare favourably with neighbouring trusts.

The West Midlands will begin transferring its bus network from private operator-led services to a publicly controlled franchising model. Invitations to tender for the first tranche, covering North and East Birmingham, Coventry and Walsall, are due to open later in August, with services expected to launch by late 2027. Dudley, Sandwell and Wolverhampton are scheduled for 2028, followed by Solihull and south and west Birmingham in 2029. The West Midlands Combined Authority says franchising will provide greater control over fares, routes and timetables after subsidies failed to prevent fare increases and service cuts.

Birmingham restaurants, takeaways and shops faced fines, prosecutions and temporary closures in July after council inspections uncovered mouse droppings, live and dead cockroaches, mouldy food, out-of-date products and poor cleaning. Kundun Sweets was fined £25,000, Kings Heath International Store’s company was fined £16,000, and several other businesses received penalties or emergency prohibition orders. The most substantial penalty was a £2 million fine against B&M Retail Ltd for hygiene offences at three Birmingham stores. Businesses cited remedial work, pest-control measures and improved hygiene standards in response.

Three people have applied to become the permanent chief constable of West Midlands Police. Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster said all three were eligible, capable and appointable, with formal shortlisting due later in the week and assessment scheduled for 9–10 September. Acting Chief Constable Scott Green has held the role since January, following the retirement of Craig Guildford amid controversy over the use of incorrect Microsoft Copilot evidence in a decision to bar Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from a Birmingham football match. Foster said there was a strong possibility all three applicants would reach the shortlist.

West Midlands Police has expanded Raneem's Law into a second phase, embedding more independent domestic abuse specialists in 999 control rooms to improve risk assessments and early intervention. Backed by £440,820 in Home Office funding, the initiative will increase specialist coverage to up to three advisors per shift, operating seven days a week from 8am to 10pm. Early results show an increase in reviewed domestic abuse calls from 11 to 17 percent, with expectations of further improvement as recruitment continues.

Investment leaders approved £8 million for the second phase of the Kingshurst Village Centre regeneration in Solihull, prompting concerns from WMCA deputy chair Stephen Simkins over persistent delays in major regional projects. Phase 2 includes new community, health, and retail facilities along with housing and a vicarage, but its completion date has slipped to 2028. Officials urged sharper delivery practices, improved coordination with local authorities and developers, and better management of capital tied up in delayed schemes. The project aims to support a deprived area by improving services and infrastructure, with funding conditional on upcoming council approval.

Birmingham City Council secured an emergency hygiene prohibition order to close Channi's Indian Restaurant on Stratford Road after inspectors found extensive cockroach infestation posing an imminent public health risk. Evidence of live and dead insects, egg sacks and contamination was discovered during a July 14 inspection. The restaurant must complete required sanitation and treatment measures before reopening, with magistrates confirming the closure until all identified risks are removed.

A new £25 million Freshways dairy processing plant in West Bromwich is nearing full operation and will create at least 200 jobs while handling 500 million litres of British milk annually. The facility, supported by specialist equipment manufactured by India’s IDMC following the UK‑India Free Trade Agreement, will integrate into Freshways’ national distribution network. Indian engineers completed installation work, and company leaders from both nations highlighted the partnership’s significance. The project aligns with regional economic priorities endorsed by West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker, with Freshways also supporting youth employment initiatives.

Chef Adam Pickett, recognised as Community Learning Champion at the West Midlands Combined Authority’s 2026 Adult Learner Awards, uses his Chelmsley Starters Culinary School to train young people dealing with low confidence and limited opportunities. Supported by University College Birmingham, the programme offers professional culinary training, academic support, and work experience, producing nearly 40 qualified learners since its 2025 launch. Pickett, who overcame personal challenges and prostate cancer treatment, aims to expand the initiative across the West Midlands. Regional leaders praised his work as part of a broader celebration of adult learning achievements.

A £50 million fund has been launched to help West Midlands automotive suppliers invest in equipment, skills and production capacity needed for electric vehicle supply chains. Part of the government’s DRIVE35 initiative, the four-year fund offers match-funded grants between £250,000 and £3 million. Mayor Richard Parker and Industry Minister Chris McDonald highlighted its role in supporting domestic production, strengthening supply chain resilience and securing thousands of jobs in one of the UK’s largest automotive regions.

Environmental health officers discovered a widespread cockroach and mouse infestation along with extensive hygiene failures at Kundun Sweets in Acocks Green. Birmingham Magistrates Court found the company guilty of five food safety and hygiene breaches, issuing a £25,000 fine plus additional charges totalling more than £30,000. Inspectors reported dirty food preparation areas, improper food storage and significant risks to public health, leading to the business being temporarily closed until issues were resolved.

Environmental Health officers shut down Taste of Persia on Hagley Road after finding extensive cockroach infestations during a routine inspection. Evidence presented in Birmingham Magistrates Court detailed live and dead insects throughout the kitchen and structural issues that allowed hiding and breeding. A Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Order was issued and will remain until the owners complete required works and the council confirms there is no ongoing risk to public health.

A £18 million supported housing programme for Birmingham and Coventry aims to address homelessness, but West Midlands leaders warn the two‑city pilot risks drawing greater housing demand and straining local services. Deputy Mayor Stephen Simkins urges expanding the initiative across all seven metropolitan authorities to prevent imbalances and ensure strategic planning, emphasising the need for regular reporting, regional coordination and increased homebuilding to address long‑term homelessness challenges.