The West Midlands has unveiled its most ambitious environmental fundraising initiative to date, with a new platform designed to unlock up to £150 million for nature recovery and climate resilience projects across the region.
The West Midlands Combined Authority has launched the Nature Investment Hub, a pioneering mechanism aimed at attracting both public and private sector funding. The initiative will help deliver the region’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy, targeting improvements across urban environments equivalent in size to around 50,000 football pitches.
The hub is among the first of its kind in the UK, positioning the West Midlands at the forefront of innovative, place-based environmental funding models.
A call to business to back nature at scale
The platform was launched jointly by Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, and the government’s Nature Minister Mary Creagh, with a clear call for businesses to play an active role in funding nature-based solutions.
By connecting investors and organisations with ready-to-go environmental projects, the hub aims to accelerate delivery in key areas such as biodiversity, air and water quality, green space access, and climate resilience.
The initiative also highlights the growing recognition of nature as a critical economic asset, with measurable returns for both society and infrastructure.
Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said:
“Nature is one of our greatest assets and is in fact critical infrastructure in its own right. Our economy is already £700m a year better off because of nature and our plan will bring additional value to help it survive and thrive.
“We know giving local people better access to nature improves health and wellbeing, which eases pressure on the NHS and helps more people stay in work. Every new tree we plant shields more homes, businesses, roads and railways from the impact of climate change – whether that’s recent heatwaves we experienced or the flooding some areas are prone to.
“I’m delighted businesses want to play their part, and our new Nature Investment Hub will make it easier than ever for them to work with us and help build a greener, healthier future for generations to come.”
Early pipeline projects already live
The Nature Investment Hub launches with an initial £2 million pipeline of projects ready for investment. These include:
- Expanding the Tiny Forest network in Coventry
- Establishing a new community tree nursery in Birmingham
- Restoring a river corridor through Solihull
- Reviving historic heathland in the Black Country
These schemes are designed not only to restore the natural environment but also to create new volunteering opportunities and support skills development in the rapidly growing green economy.
National spotlight through Defra pathfinder
The West Midlands is one of five areas working with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on a place-based delivery pathfinder programme. The partnership is testing how national policy and services can be better tailored to local needs, helping to accelerate delivery of both regional and national environmental priorities.
At the centre of this approach, the Nature Investment Hub will act as a test case for building a scalable pipeline of investable nature recovery projects. Lessons learned from the West Midlands and other pilot areas are expected to shape how Defra supports similar programmes across England in future.
Wider benefits for public services and the economy
Beyond environmental gains, the initiative is expected to generate significant co-benefits for public services and local economies. Improved access to green space is linked to better public health outcomes, reduced pressure on the NHS, and higher workforce productivity.
At the same time, increased investment in green infrastructure will help safeguard homes, businesses, and transport networks from the impacts of extreme weather, making the case for nature as a critical component of long-term regional resilience.
Image credit: iStock
