Royal Sutton Coldfield Plan for Neighbourhoods Survey – Help Shape the Plan

Dear Resident or Business

We are delighted to confirm that Sutton Coldfield has been chosen as one of 75 towns across the country to receive up to £20 million, over the next ten years, as part of the UK Government’s Plan for Neighbourhoods programme.

 Simply put, the programme is designed to:-

 - Help local neighbourhoods thrive;

 - Make communities better able to tackle the challenges they face;

 - Ensure local people have a real say in what happens in their area. 

We are part of a 17-strong independent Neighbourhood Board, comprised of local community leaders and business representatives from Sutton Coldfield, which is in place to manage the funds and oversee the creation of a plan to put the money to good use.   

The government requires that investments are considered across a range of categories including; enhancing community cohesion, regenerating high streets, enhancing green spaces, promoting skills provision and business support, tackling housing needs, and promoting health and well-being.

We now need you to help shape the future of Sutton Coldfield. 

Please complete this survey in order to tell us how you feel about Sutton Coldfield, communicate the changes you would like to see made, and how you would like this funding to be spent. All completed surveys will have the opportunity to enter into a draw with the winner receiving £500 to award to a Sutton Coldfield based community group or charity of their choice. 

We look forward to creating and delivering a plan together that can directly address issues in Sutton Coldfield and ultimately enhance our Royal Town for residents, businesses and visitors alike. 

With thanks

Foreword

Offering a blend of city and country living, with low unemployment, excellent schools, and relatively high household incomes, Royal Sutton Coldfield is a fantastic place to live, work and visit. Important assets include Sutton Park—one of the UK’s largest urban green spaces - and strong transport links. Cultural highlights include the historic Town Hall in King Edward Square, Highbury Theatre and the recently refurbished Royal Cinema. 

Despite this, the town faces a number of challenges. The once-thriving town centre has seen rising vacancy rates for commercial properties due to economic pressures and online competition along with falling footfall. Local businesses are struggling with rising costs. The increasingly older demographic is raising demand for health and social care—challenging the capacity of local services. Meanwhile much of the housing in Sutton Coldfield is expensive making it difficult for young people to move into the area. In an era which aspires to environmental sustainability, the town remains car-dependent, with limited infrastructure for walking or cycling.  There is much to be proud of—but also much to address.  It is important to preserve what makes Sutton Coldfield special, while working together to build an even better town for the future.  

The Plan for Neighbourhoods

Sutton Coldfield is one of 75 towns across the country that is to receive up to £20 million as part of the UK Government’s Plan for Neighbourhoods Programme.  The programme aims to help local neighbourhoods thrive, make communities better able to tackle the challenges they face and ensure local people have a real say in what happens in their areas. 

A Neighbourhood Board of local community leaders and business representatives has been appointed to manage the funds. The Board has appointed Genecon to lead on community and stakeholder engagement to identify local priorities for change and investment. The community consultation process will feed into the development of a 10 year Regeneration Plan that shows the UK Government how the funds will be invested. An Investment Plan will also be developed that provides more detailed information about activities to be funded in the first 4 years (with further Investment Plans produced after completion of this initial 4 year period). These plans need to be sent to the UK government by 28th November with the first allocation of funding anticipated from April 2026. 

The UK Government requires that investments are considered across a range of spend categories that include, for example, regenerating high streets, enhancing green space, promoting skills provision and business support, tackling housing needs, promoting health and well-being, enhancing community cohesion, education and community safety. Funding will be allocated to the spend categories that matter most to people living and working in Royal Sutton Coldfield. We would like you to tell us how you feel about the town, what changes you would like to see and how you think the funding should be spent.