Projects & Priorities

The Darlaston Plan will guide how £20 million of investment is spent over the next decade.

Each project funded through The Darlaston Plan must align with one or more of the Government’s PRide in Place priorities, ensuring that local ambitions contribute to sustainable, inclusive, and community-led growth.

Key Project Categories

The Darlaston Plan will guide how neighbourhood funding is used over the coming years — delivering projects that make our town safer, greener, better connected, and full of opportunity for everyone who lives and works here.

Our priorities are based on what residents, businesses, and community partners tell us matters most. These themes form the foundation of our rolling four-year Delivery Plan, which will be reviewed and updated regularly as projects progress.

Safe & Stronger Communities

Local Priority Examples Creating a town where everyone feels safe. Typical Project Types Improved street lighting, CCTV upgrades, community wardens, youth outreach programmes, safer public spaces.

Vibrant High Streets and Local Heritage

Local Priority Examples Restoring pride in our town centre and celebrating Darlaston’s history. Typical Project Types Shopfront improvements, market square upgrades, heritage restoration, pop-up retail and cultural events.

Transport, Access & Active Travel

Local Priority Examples Making it easier to move around Darlaston. Typical Project Types Better pedestrian routes, cycle paths, public transport improvements, signage, parking and accessibility schemes.

Skills, Enterprise and Employment

Local Priority Examples Equipping local people for jobs of the future. Typical Project Types Better pedestrian routes, cycle paths, public transport improvements, signage, parking and accessibility schemes.

Green Spaces, Health and Wellbeing

Local Priority Examples Making it easier to move around Darlaston. Typical Project Types Skills training, apprenticeship hubs, business support grants, enterprise spaces, links to local colleges and employers.

Project Timeline Overview

Phase 1: Listening & Planning (From 2025)

Community consultation, evidence gathering, identifying top priorities, and developing the 4-year plan.

Phase 2: Early Delivery (2025-2029)

Community consultation, evidence gathering, identifying top priorities, and developing the 4-year plan.

Phase 3: Main Investment (2027-2031)

Delivery of major capital projects, infrastructure works, and multi-partner initiatives.

Phase 4: Legacy & Review (2031-2035)

Evaluation of impact, sustainability planning, and securing ongoing funding through partner investment.

(N.B. This is a very high line estimate of the project and the Timeline may adjust as new funding or co-investment opportunities are identified.)

Future Milestones

Milestone	Target Date (approximate)	Details / Output
Community Questionnaire results published	Jan 2026	Summary of consultation findings.
Draft Investment Plan submitted to Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).	Feb 2026	Includes high level programme for the town and indicative budgets.
First round of projects launched	Summer 2026	Projects begin
Annual Progress Report	Every April (2027 onwards)	Annual review published online and submitted to government.

Monitoring and Evaluation

Every funded project will be monitored against clear performance measures.

The Darlaston Board will publish annual reports in line with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) monitoring requirements, including:

Outputs and outcomes (jobs created, spaces improved, skills delivered)
Financial accountability (expenditure reports)
Impact evaluation (community satisfaction, local economy metrics)

Data and reports will be available on the Updates page and archived annually for transparency.