Projects: Urban Greening

  • Investment
    £1,220,000 consisting of 100% Towns Fund
  • Timeline

    Start: November 2021

    Delivery: March 2026

  • Location
    West Bromwich

The West Bromwich Urban Greening project has planned to deliver a number of initiatives over a 5-year programme, to enhance the existing greenspace and improve the appearance of West Bromwich Town Centre.

The West Bromwich Urban Greening project has planned to deliver a number of initiatives over a 5-year programme, to enhance the existing greenspace and improve the appearance of West Bromwich Town Centre.  This will include the introduction of new trees, parklets and play space, complementing planned infrastructure works to establish better links from the Town Centre to Sandwell Valley.

A Cultural Programme delivered by Multistory will also be delivered alongside the capital development works, including community involvement and artistic interpretation to help improve the physical and mental wellbeing of people. 

The project Full Business Case was approved by Government in March 2022. The project team have since undertaken a number of activities in the background to finalise the work packages to deliver this project. On-site works commenced in August 2022 for Phase 1 and completed in December 2022. The second phase of the project commenced in March 2023 and completed in August 2023. The project continues to deliver the Cultural Programme with a number activities already taken place. You can find out more here.

Check Out the West Bromwich High Street Digital Map

Multistory are excited to share a new digital commission by artist and poet, Lee Mackenzie. ‘West Bromwich High Street’ is an illustrated poetry map and musical score of West Bromwich that connects the High Street to green spaces, as part of Multistory’s urban greening cultural programme, Green Roots. The map contains drawings of many of the area’s well-known buildings and the sounds of the high street as represented in musical notations.

View the West Bromwich High Street Digital Map by Lee Mackenzie

 

Deliverable:

Status:

40 temporary Full Time (FT) jobs supported during project implementation

Achieved (48 jobs supported)

2480m2 of new greenspace in the town centre

2250m2 achieved to date

1005 m2 of public realm improved

Completed March 2023

540m2 of new cycle ways

Completed March 2024

448 m2 new pedestrian paths

Completed March 2024

33 trees planted

13 trees planted to date

12 learners assisted

6 learners assisted to date

4 new parklets located in the town centre

Completed March 2024

Refurbishment of Dartmouth Square Clock

Completed November 2023

Restoration of the historic Farley Fountain on Princess Parade

Completed November 2023

September 2022: Works have commenced on the restoration of Farley Fountain in West Bromwich. Restoration works will involve removal of the canopy for repair, on site repair of the columns and full re-painting of the structure in new livery.

November 2022: The Farley Fountain new colours have been revealed as the structure is being reinstalled on Princess Parade. Dartmouth Clock is also being re-painted and both historic features will be revealed ready for the Christmas Lights Switch on in December 2022.

November 2022: The new spring and winter cherry blossom trees have been installed and old tree pits along the High Street have been replaced.

November 2022: The work to Dartmouth Square is also nearing completion, with the paving replaced, trees planted and new stainless steel benches ready for installation.

November 2022: The new hoarding artwork along Bull Street is complete. The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) funded the artwork which was completed by 'Window Artists', based in Birmingham and includes cultural references to West Bromwich and it's history. Visit Bull Street to take a better look!

November 2022: Phase 1 of the Urban Greening project is nearing completion! The Farley Fountain structure has been reinstalled and the Clock Tower reinstallation is underway.

November 2022: Four new seating structures (Parklets) have been installed along High Street and planting is underway to add greenery to the town centre.

March 2023: Phase 2 - New trees being planted and repaving has commenced.

April 2023: New paving is installed on Bull Street.

April 2023: Jake Williams from the Wildlife Trust and local artist, Lee Mackenzie, out and about with Sandwell Visually Impaired (SVI); taking in all senses of the new spaces as part of the Green Roots Cultural Programme Guided Walks in partnership with Multistory.

May 2023: Feature planting beds being installed as part of the paving works along Bull Street Green Avenue.