The West Midlands needs to expand its horizons if it is to thrive and prosper, it was claimed today.

And that applies across a vast range of issues – from flood defence to transport congestion; from energy initiatives to tourism.

West Midlands Business Council says much is being done but there are many more challenges.

The business council was responding to planning proposals from the Regional Assembly, set to form part of the legally backed Regional Spatial Strategy, a critical blueprint for the future.

James Watkins, WMBC executive director, said: “Problems with the transport infrastructure are costing every UK business an average £27,000 a year.

“For firms in the West Midlands – at the heart of the country – congestion and poor infrastructure is being felt every day by business. This is despite the fact that being located in the Midlands should provide geographical advantages – from just-in-time deliveries to developing the logistics and professional services sectors.

“And energy too is a critical issue for business – secure power sources are vitally important.

“For the land locked West Midlands, which can not fully benefit from the immediate effects of wind and wave power and the region widely seen as the centre for UK manufacturing, any disruption in energy supplies is detrimental not just to the region’s performance but to the national economy.

“The business community is concerned at the threat to power supplies for energy intensive manufacturing businesses and these concerns could be accentuated, if matters are not addressed, by pressures on the national grid from the planned house building programme.”

WMBC has submitted a host of ideas which, it hopes, will take the blueprint to a new level.