West Midlands neighbourhoods among those 'doubly disadvantaged'
A new report's found 2.3 million people in England living in 'struggling' communities
Last updated 17th Oct 2024
A new report's found neighbourhoods in the West Midlands are among those experiencing the most disadvantage.
The research, by the Centre for Progressive Policy (CPP) and Local Trust, found 2.3 million people in England living in neighbourhoods facing fewer job opportunities, poorer health outcomes, lower digital connectivity and worse transport links.
It found Castle Vale, Hawksley, Allens Cross and Tibbington were the communities at highest risk of disadvantage in our region.
CPP and Local Trust are calling for a dedicated plan of renewal.
Dan Turner's from the Centre for Progressive Policy - he tells us more about the issues these communities face.
"These are places that face both high levels of material disadvantage - so, struggle with access to quality housing, jobs - but also struggle with access to social capital. So libraries, community centres and things other communities take for granted.
"It's often in towns or cities that have gone through de-industrialization. The effect of the past few decades on those communities is more than half of people being out of work."
Dan says transport is one of the most significant barriers for these communities.
"It's not just that if you live in these communities you don't have the jobs on your doorstep, but it's also harder to get out and about and go to other parts of your region.
"So if you're in the West Midlands, the buses aren't taking you from some of these communities into the places where the jobs are, so it becomes harder to break out of the disadvantage."
He says the introduction of a West Midlands Mayor could mean positive changes are made to local transport.
"There's a chance for the first time in a generation to say - at a regional level - how the bus network is set up, how it operates, and starting to imagine how it can provide a better service to the people in these communities."
A spokesperson for the Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government for comment said:
“Devolution is the key that unlocks each region’s untapped economic potential. That’s why our plan to drive growth across the country shifts power away from Westminster and into the hands of local people who know their areas best.
“We will go even further too by giving greater powers to existing mayors and empowering new ones, with stronger control over issues they care about.”