Parker continued: “Importantly, it was put in place to streamline planning, quicken the pace of delivery, allow us to acquire sites and remedy brownfield lane really quickly.
“Those arrangements are safe and secure – they’ve been approved by my board, approved by the council’s cabinet and approved by government.”
Joanne Roney, managing director of the city council, said the Sports Quarter area has some of the highest levels of deprivation in the UK.
“What the MDC will be able to do is now really work through pathways,” she said.
“We’re putting skills funding in, working with government to see if we can bring additional flexibilities around apprenticeships levies or any other good ideas.
“We have to say, ‘What do we really need to do here?’, to connect communities to these jobs.”
The MDC is set to cover an area the size of more than 600 football pitches and include some of the biggest regeneration projects in Europe.
Planned developments include a £4bn Birmingham Knowledge Quarter, HS2 Curzon Street Station and adjoining Central Heart site, £2bn Smithfield development next to the Bullring and a major creative industries hub in Digbeth.
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