Around 45,000 new homes are to be built within the Midlands, it has been announced.

The Black Country region is seeking £6 billion in investment across 30 towns near to and within Wolverhampton.

If successful, the Garden City project will be one the largest brownfield site regeneration schemes within the UK.

A total of 550 sites covering over 1,500 hectares have been outlined for development, with build work set to begin this year.

Dr. Chris Handy OBE, Black Country LEP board member, said: "The Garden City is a vital part of the Black Country's growth plans and future success. It will increase the appeal of the region as a place to live and work, and will boost the local construction industry and its supply chain.

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"It is close to skilled jobs and universities, a regional market of 5 million people, and is served by quality transport connections.

"Not the since the Second World War has a Garden City been built on this scale or at this speed. It's going to transform the perception of the Black Country and demonstrate to the rest of Britain that we are a region that is going places."

Communities Secretary Greg Clark added: "Schemes like this are a vital part of the work this Government is doing to rebalance the economy and build the homes our country needs. House building is at a seven year high, but we're determined to go even further and deliver on our pledge to build over one million new homes."

Garden City is part of the region's wider housing plan to deliver 85,000 new homes by 2030.

With construction beginning this year, Garden City is due to be completed in 2026.

(LM/CD)