The purpose of the West Midlands Futures Green Paper is to support a conversation across the West Midlands about our long-term strategic priorities as we embark on a ten-year programme of regional transformation to unlock inclusive growth and increase our residents’ living standards.
The West Midlands has strong and distinctive foundations for inclusive economic growth—its scale, demography, connectivity, investment and innovation records—and is changing. Amidst external changes, emerging opportunities, and following nearly ten years of devolution, this is the right time to be crystal clear about the region’s challenges and opportunities, the priorities required to address them, and the levers that can be used collectively to improve residents’ living standards.
Over the past year, the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has engaged with partner organisations, gathered evidence, and worked toward shaping a conversation, the West Midlands Futures Green Paper, about the region’s desired future and how it will navigate upcoming changes.
Stakeholder input is now being sought to better understand views on change. As future plans are developed, it is essential that they reflect the experiences of the individuals, businesses, and communities they are meant to support.
This Green Paper sets out four major areas of change on the horizon and highlights how regional stakeholders, led by the WMCA, are beginning to respond. The golden thread running throughout is growth. In each area, key questions are posed to gather feedback on the direction of travel and how to make the most of available opportunities.
Who is it for?
The Green Paper is for everyone with a stake in the West Midlands’ economic transformation: local government, universities, colleges and schools, businesses and private sector organisations, investors, central government, public services, utilities, community organisations, and residents.
Collectively, the region will harness its resources and capabilities to sustain economic transformation at scale. The WMCA will play a leadership role in convening and investing in this transformation in close partnership with others.
The consultation closes at 11.59pm on Sunday 8 June 2025.
