We want the echoes of the Games to inspire our children when they visit and revive positive memories when we pass by, feeling proud of this place we call home. We want to position Perry Barr as a thriving centre and attractive place for a wide range of people to live, work and visit, and use the Games to accelerate reliable and safe infrastructure that provides sustainable travel.

Backed by £778 million of public funding, the Games will deliver world class sport and venues and generate a range of lasting benefits for local people. There is a united ambition to use this investment to accelerate improvements and achieve a healthier, happier, better connected and more prosperous region for us all.

World class venues and venue legacy around the region

Hosting the Games allows for the creation of world-class venues that will bring future sporting events to the West Midlands and give local people access to world-class and inclusive sports facilities. In conjunction with sport’s National Governing Bodies, planning is underway to attract post-Games domestic, national, and international events to the West Midlands.

In addition to the two key venues there will also be substantial investment and improvement made to other Games venues. For example, improvements to the riverside and resurfacing of paths at Victoria Park in Leamington Spa, and at Cannock Chase, where the Games Mountain Biking event will take place.

“This will be an amazing venue for Birmingham 2022 and I’m sure that athletes from across the country, and around the world, are looking forward to competing here during the Games. This stadium has long been associated with great events and great athletes and that association can now continue in 2022 and beyond.” Kelly Sotherton, MBE - Team England’s Track and Field Team Leader for Birmingham 2022, Commonwealth Champion and Double Olympic bronze medallist

“People shouldn’t underestimate how much a facility investment can help the local area, but it’s also a national investment. Competitions after the Games will be coming [to Sandwell] from left right and centre. Never ever underestimate how much that brings, especially to local teams, local athletes and how much it inspires them.” Adam Peaty, MBE - Olympic, World and Commonwealth swimming champion and World record holder

Alexander Stadium

Ahead of the Games the Alexander Stadium will be transformed. At Games time the Stadium will house around 30,000 spectators at each session. Post-Games it will revert to a permanent capacity of around 18,000, the largest permanent facility capable of hosting major athletics in the UK. The development of the stadium will support elite sporting opportunities and will further community access all year round.

After its initial use as a key Games venue the Stadium will become a focal point of health, wellbeing, sport, academic and community activity in an improved Perry Park. Post-Games, legacy tenant Birmingham City University will relocate their Sports Science faculty to the stadium. The new West Stand and facilities also provides a further opportunity to attract legacy tenants/sports users.

Find out more about the Alexander Stadium on the Birmingham City Council website 

Sandwell Aquatics Centre

Sandwell Aquatics Centre is a new Games venue and will host the swimming and diving events. In legacy it will provide local people with a world class facility and turn Sandwell into a destination for regional and national swimming and diving.

The centre will open its doors to the public in 2023 and provide a lasting benefit to one of the most disadvantaged areas in the region.

Sandwell Council have formed a 10-year partnership with the University of Wolverhampton which will see students study and train within the Aquatics Centre as part of their curriculum from 2023.

Find out more about Sandwell Aquatics Centre on sandwell.gov.uk 

Perry Bar Regeneration

By 2040 Perry Barr will be a thriving neighbourhood transformed by the impact of Birmingham hosting the Games. It will be a great place to live with parks and green spaces that will contribute to improvements in health and wellbeing. The diverse community will be supported by excellent infrastructure, both physical and social, driven by strong resident engagement.

This vision will be delivered in phases, with some development completed in time for the Games. Further planning and engagement with community, stakeholders, funders, and landowners is underway to deliver longer-term change. Key aspects include:

Residential scheme – the first phase of a scheme of 1,400 new homes will be developed in the heart of Perry Barr.

Sustainable transport – encouraging active travel and reducing reliance on cars – a refurbished rail station and bus interchange, alongside a rapid bus transit route and segregated cycle lane to the city centre, as well as improved pedestrian facilities, will provide local people with sustainable travel choices.

Highways scheme – enables the prioritisation of active and sustainable travel over private vehicles, creates a more legible and attractive pedestrian environment, and unlocks land for development.

Find out more about the Perry Barr regeneration on the Birmingham City Council website

Transport and Infrastructure

The Games time transport plan, being prepared by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), will encourage public transport and active travel solutions to venues, accommodation, and attractions to provide safe, reliable, and fully accessible choices for spectators, competitors, and organisers. The need to change travel habits at Games time is a catalyst towards longer- term behaviour change goals for transport use and delivers a direct sustainable legacy benefit that supports decarbonisation, improvements to air quality and broader physical and mental wellbeing.

The Games has accelerated key infrastructure improvements including:

• Cycling improvements together with a cycle hire scheme.
• West Midlands Metro Westside extension in Birmingham City Centre and rail station upgrades including at University, Perry Barr, and Coventry rail stations.
• The addition of new ‘Sprint’ bus routes to provide quicker journey times and improved reliability to key venues, Alexander Stadium, and the NEC.
• Road improvement schemes.
• Greater resilience and incident management with real time monitoring, the Regional Transport Coordination Centre will provide permanent regional coordination of transport networks and services.
• A West Midlands Police newly built event control centre will be a vital resource for all four police forces in the region and will be used for all large-scale events in the region following the Games. Technology enhancements to CCTV systems around Games venues, and physical security improvements will make streets safer for all. Operation UNITY will be the largest policing operation ever undertaken within the West Midlands.