The organisers of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham have unveiled details of their legacy plan which involves creating 1,400 new homes and a procurement budget of £350m.

The event is due to take place in July/August next year with the redeveloped Alexander Athletics Stadium the focal point for the event. That, along with the Sandwell Aquatics Centre, will be adapted post Games and open to the public in 2023.

The athletics village in Perry Barr will be converted into a range of accommodation. It is being built in the most part thanks to £165m in funding from central government’s Housing Delivery Board department.

The athletes village in Perry Barr, which will be converted into more than 1,400 homes post Commonwealth Games

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “One of the main reasons I fought so hard to help secure the Commonwealth Games for the West Midlands was the jobs it would create for local people – and that is exactly what the legacy plan sets out to do.

“35,000 job and skills opportunities is an incredible number, and given the effect on livelihoods the coronavirus pandemic has had, it is mission critical we reach that number to help get people back into work as part of my two-year Mayoral jobs plan.

“Along with 1,400 new homes, a big step towards carbon neutrality by 2041, and a huge boost to West Midlands’ trade, the Commonwealth Games is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the region that will deliver far more than a few medals.”

In addition to the two key venues there will also be substantial investment and improvement made to other games venues, including improvements to the riverside and resurfacing of paths at Victoria Park in Leamington Spa, and at Cannock Chase, where the Games Mountain Biking event will take place.

The games have been backed with £778m in public funding with two thirds of that directed towards the Perry Barr area of the city. It is also hoping to be the first carbon neutral games and the first time firms bidding for contracts must include a social value requirement.