00:01£50m has been approved to accelerate transport projects linked to two major football venues
00:06in Birmingham. The funding was agreed by Mayor Richard Parker and the West Midlands Combined
00:11Authority. It will support early work to extend the Metro to the site of Birmingham City Football
00:17Club's proposed new stadium, known as the Powerhouse Stadium, and begin preparations for
00:22upgrades to Whitten and Aston railway stations which serve Villa Park. The money is an advance
00:27from a wider £2.4 billion government transport allocation for the region covering the period
00:33from 2027 to 2032. The Combined Authority says bringing funding forward will allow design,
00:41planning and initial works to begin sooner. The Metro Extension is intended to connect
00:46the planned sports quarter development backed by Birmingham City's owners, Nighthead Capital,
00:51to the wider network. Station improvements are designed to manage increased passenger demand,
00:56including during the Euro 2028 football tournament. Separate funding will also continue development
01:03of Coventry's Very Light Rail project aimed at delivering lower cost tram systems.
01:09The Mayor says the schemes are intended to improve access and support economic growth across the
01:14region. The Combined Authority states that detailed business cases and planning approvals will be
01:21required before construction phases are confirmed and timetabled. Further updates are expected as designs progress.
01:28The Mayor says the
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