Serving and supporting our communities

What we're focussing on 

We’re working to make Wyre Forest ‘a safe, vibrant and clean place to live, work and visit’.

We are prioritising economic growth and regeneration and securing financial sustainability for services our local communities value as well as making the district a clean, safe and green place to live, work and visit.

Here are a few of things we are doing:

• We have opened Millpond house in Kidderminster, providing short-term temporary accommodation in the district. We
  will be helping the people there to secure longer term housing.
• We are investing more than £50,000 extra on tackling environment crimes like fly tipping and dog fouling and illegal parking in 2025-2026.
• We have installed inclusive play equipment in Stourport and Bewdley and we are spending another £50,000  introducing more to play areas across the district.
• We are helping to provide more cultural events. We brought music back to our parks with a series of outdoor summer concerts in Brinton Park and Stourport Riverside.
• We have awarded the contract to start work on the redevelopment of Brinton Park funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Council’s own budget.
• We have produced a carbon reduction plan for the district and the council and we are working on installing electric
  charging points in car parks in all three towns.

Regenerating the district

• The Old Court – a new home for creative and digital industries – has opened in the centre of Kidderminster. We have transformed the former magistrates’ court, retained the heritage features and created high-quality office and event space to rent.
  Funding was from Future High Streets Fund (FHSF) – the previous government’s funding initiative to transform struggling high streets – and the Council’s own budget. Read more about the project at www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk/edr 
• In Stourport we have been working with the Town Council to help develop a vision for the future of the town.
  A survey was carried out to gather the views of locals and visitors to help shape the Stourport Future Vision
  document. Once this is published it will help enable the councils to submit applications for grant funding.
• We are also working to remodel the Piano Building in Kidderminster town centre. The former higher education academy is being made into food, drinks and entertainment spaces on the ground floor and mixed-use offices above. The outside space is also being updated to provide a performance space. This part of the project is due to be completed in the summer.
• Also due for completion in late summer 2025 is the urban park at the top end of Worcester Street. The project to improve connectivity in the town is funded by Future High Streets Fund, Brownfield Land Release, UKSPF,
  LEP and the Council’s own budget.