The West Midlands, crucible of the industrial revolution, is one of the most neglected regions in the UK. Its immense rolling landscape, with some of the most beautiful but forgotten landscapes in Britain, is being reimagined for millions of people, with the creation of the urban West Midlands National Park.
There are 15 National Parks in the United Kingdom covering some of our most beautiful and wild landscapes. The West Midlands National Park is the first urban park and unlike traditional national parks has no fixed boundary. Instead, the park is all about creating a new big scale way of thinking which makes the economic case for attracting people by putting the environment and quality of life first. By taking this new holistic approach to planning the park will provide a major boost to existing businesses and help attract new ones to the region.
Kathryn Moore, the Director of the West Midlands National Park Lab and Professor of Landscape Architecture at BCU, said:
"The West Midlands National Park will offer exciting business and employment opportunities, from attracting inward investment to a big boost in tourism, all delivered through creating a healthier, greener, and more equitable environment."
An advocate of exploring the approach is the Mayor for the West Midlands, Richard Parker, who stated in his manifesto:
"We will collaborate with Councils and partners to explore whether there is appetite to work together on a spatial plan for the West Midlands. This will include the ambition set out in the West Midlands National Park’s plans."
Since its launch the idea of a park has received widespread support from businesses across the West Midlands including Legal and General, National Express and Urban and Civic as well as from the United Nations, West Midlands Combined Authority, West Midlands Mayor, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Birmingham City Council.
The West Midlands National Park will be discussed at the Urban Thinkers Campus from 2 - 4 October at BCU. Find out more about attending including the sponsorship opportunities.