Solihull councillors have been told the ambition remains for a Midland Metro extension to the borough.

But funding is still yet to be secured and remains a significant obstacle.

As the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) reported last year the government has committed to around £3-400 million of investment to extend the Metro tram line from Birmingham city centre to Birmingham City Football Club's planned Powerhouse stadium and £2.9 billion sports quarter in Bordesley Green.

The aim is for this phase 1 of the project to be ready and open to passengers by 2031.

The longer term ambition is the Metro line would continue further out to to stop at the new HS2 international station at the Arden Cross site in a phase two of the landmark project.

That area, part of the UK Central Hub, is planned to be Europe's best- connected destination with ambitious plans for it.

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council's (SMBC) draft local plan has a policy which says: "The council will support the principle of proposals for the delivery of Metro and Sprint as part of a network of rapid-transit lines across the West Midlands, particularly along the following corridors in the borough that provide access to UK Central Hub:

• From Digbeth and the east of Birmingham to UK Central Hub
• From Blythe Valley to central Solihull, UK Central Hub and Chelmsley Wood
• From Hall Green to central Solihull and UK Central Hub."

At the latest economic development, managed growth and skills scrutiny board meeting, when the draft local plan was in the spotlight, Cllr Kathryn Thomas asked: "How confident are we of getting funding for that (Metro extension).

"And while we are designing the central hub, are we building space for the Metro route into the plans?"

Officer Perry Wardle, the council's director of economy and infrastructure, said: "It will be national funding required, supplementing regional funding.

"It isn't a project the council is going to deliver, the council will be a critical partner in the development and delivery.

"It has still got to go through significant development, funding processes, business cases and approvals before we can be confident about delivery but we are involved in work that is looking at development of a Metro scheme."

The officer also highlighted that HS2 has committed to having driverless trains, called automated people movers (AMP), which will transport passengers to and from the new HS2 Interchange Station at the Arden Cross site.

Once built these AMPs will carry 2,100 passengers per hour, it is estimated.

"The point is the APM will be a very rapid connection between HS2, the NEC, Birmingham International (railway station) and the airport," the officer said.

"We don't need to be planning for Metro to be going through all the main congested development sites – we have just got to get to the hub area and have that interchange facility."

Cllr Karen Grinsell, SMBC's leader has previously said: "Once the later phase is built our residents will have better access to jobs, healthcare and wider transport links and these proposals should be developed at pace.

"I am excited for work to get underway as soon as possible to deliver this vital project."