Region's housing and job targets met, figures show

Housing and job targets set in the first year of devolution for the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) have been surpassed, according to figures.

The government set a target of providing employment support to 2,740 individuals and the authority said it reached 8,200 people, for 2025/26.

WMCA was also tasked with providing funding for building at least 6,800 homes. Data showed projects for a total of 7,237 houses had been "signed off" in the last financial year.

Data for the first year of the authority's Integrated Settlement showed the region could be "trusted to deliver", West Midlands mayor Richard Parker said.

In the last financial year, the region was one of two in the country to be given the first settlement of about £389m, granting it more powers of key services.

Had government-set targets not been met, it could have resulted in money being claimed back and reduced funding being awarded in the future.

WMCA created 2,925 high growth sector jobs in 2025/26, above the target of 995.

A total of 10,117 businesses received support against the target of 4,275.

The mayor said: "Last year, I launched my West Midlands Growth Plan – and we're showing now that we're truly delivering against it.

"Housing is where the difference is clearest and where we've made huge progress."

The government set "tough targets" and "we have gone well past them", he stated.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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