The planning committee at Walsall Council gave the green light to applications by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) for the new train stations in Willenhall and Darlaston.
Walsall Council has approved a recommendation to quadruple the council tax on empty homes.
The changes will mean that from the 1st April 2019, a home unoccupied for more than two years could pay double.
A Walsall Councillor has welcomed the £6 million increase in Walsall council funding and praised the Government on “getting it right”.
This increase follows significant Government investment in local services announced at this year’s Budget.