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Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy believes ambitious plans to transform Birmingham's Digbeth area will give the city a "really exciting future". Ms Nandy joined Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight and the Mayor of the West Midlands, Richard Parker, for a tour around Digbeth Loc. Studios, to coincide with the Regional Investment Summit taking place in Edgbaston . Two major projects were announced during this event, the first of which being the Warwick Bar Prospectus, sets out a vision of an area covering the size of 22 football pitches with the potential of 1,700 new homes and 110,000sq ft of creative workspaces. READ MORE: Peaky Blinders creator says West Midlands 'needs to strike while the iron's hot' The second project saw the announcement of Production Central WM, which is a new film production office to connect producers with set locations, local crew and suppliers needed to bring more big and small screen blockbusters to the region. Other major regeneration projects going on in Digbeth include an extension of the Metro tram route and BBC's conversion of the former derelict Tea Factory. Ms Nandy compared the work going on in Digbeth to the development of Media City in her native Greater Manchester, which she said proved to be a "game changer". The Digbeth announcements came on the day the Mayor, Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Peter Kyle co-hosted the Regional Investment Summit in Edgbaston. Ms Nandy said: "Here in Digbeth Loc. Studios, the Mayor is working with Steven Knight to welcome investment from right across the world, creating amazing opportunities for young people and helping to regenerate a part of Birmingham that has a really proud past and now a really exciting future. "It is exactly the sort of project we as a Government believe we can create all over the country to show we don't just grow our economy in London and the South East but in every part of Britain. "Talent for a long time has been everywhere but opportunity has not and we're determined that is going to change. "I grew up in Manchester, and projects like Media City took courage, vision, and investment, but they were game-changing for young people growing up in my city. "Looking for opportunities to be able to stay and contribute and get world-class jobs on their doorstep. "That is exactly the sort of work going on here in Birmingham and we believe we can create those incredible jobs all over the country and unlock the talent that exists in all of our towns and cities and to grow our economy in a sustainable way rather than forcing young people to get out to get on. "That's the vision we have and why we hosted the Regional Investment Summit in Birmingham, to lay down a marker that we don't just believe in the potential of our regions but we're investing in them." Mr Parker said: "Digbeth will be bigger, better and bolder than Manchester's Media City – it's central location and abundance of investment opportunities make it unique. "A place known for its grit and graft, it is at the cusp of its renaissance as a top location for the creative industries. "The BBC and Steven Knight are just some of the partners who are investing heavily in Digbeth's future, because they know that this place, at the heart of the country, has the backing of industry and government – and a wealth of local talent to work with. "Together, we'll write a new chapter in Digbeth's history that puts our region centre stage for the creative industries."
