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West Midlands business leaders have welcomed Chancellor George Osborne's measures including major infrastructure schemes to boost the region's economy in his Autumn Statement - but are demanding action now. It comes as the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce has predicted the country will narrowly avoid falling into another recession.

Osborne announced a raft of infrastructure plans in the West Midlands including:

* An M6 managed motorway scheme between Birmingham and Manchester

* A45 Westbound Bridge (Solihull) – replacement bridge over the West Coast Main Line close from Birmingham Airport on the A45 strategic corridor into Birmingham

* Evesham Bridge Maintenance (Evesham) – rebuilding of the main bridge into Evesham from the South

* A45/46 Tollbar End improvement scheme

* A45 Corridor (Damson Parkway to M42 junction 6) diversion

The announcements were welcomed across the region alongside a series of other measures aimed at boosting the economy and helping businessed.

In summary, they included: a credit easing programme involving up to £40bn in low-interest loans to small and medium-sized firms, an extra £1bn for the Regional Growth Fund, a £250m support package for energy-intensive firms abd £500m for science, a £1bn business finance partnership to raise money for medium-sized companies, extending business rate relief for small companies to April 2013, subsidising six-month work placements for 410,000 youngsters and new time limits for planning applications.

Michael Ward, president of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, said his organisation now expects minimal to low growth for 2012 but no recession.

He said: "In the circumstances we are pleased with the new measures announced which will support private sector growth through investment in improving infrastructure, access to finance and business support.

"Against the backdrop of political instability and impotency across the EU and US, the Chancellor’s deficit reduction strategy has earned the UK real credibility in the financial markets. This has been hard earned - and we wholeheartedly support the government's reiteration of its commitment to deficit reduction today.

"However, in the face of falling business confidence, we welcome the Chancellor's commitment today to do more."

The chamber also said it welcomed the Chancellor's decision to "look at any reasonable means to provide air capacity in the South East" and view it as an opportunity to expand Birmingham Airport.

Ward said Birmingham Airport has the spare capacity to cope with an extra nine million passengers, as well as another 21 million from 2014 when an approved runway extension is built.

Louise Bennett, chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, added: "On the whole, I believe it is a statement that businesses will welcome because the tone was one of trying to get companies growing and removing many of the burdens and obstacles to that growth.

"But we do need to see those words turned into action that have very real and tangible positive effects on companies across our patch."

Richard Butler, CBI regional director for the West Midlands, said: "Whilst macro-economic conditions continue to be difficult there is some encouragement here for the West Midlands - a number of regional infrastructure projects and a boost to the Black Country enterprise zone will all create jobs."

John Rider, West Midlands chairman of the Institute of Directors, added: "I would cautiously welcome many of the recent initiatives including the underwriting of small firm loans, infrastructure projects to create jobs and efforts to deal with youth unemployment.

"My doubts surround delivery and the delays we are already seeing on politicians' promises. The first stage of Regional Growth Fund money is yet to be paid over; compensation to those uninsured who lost out in the riots has not started yet; enterprise zones will not kick in until 2013; and the youth unemployment plan seems short on detail as to who will qualify as well as being on hold until at least April 2012."

"We need more detail quickly but it strikes me that the government is in grave danger of falling into Blairite 'spin' mode. What is required is action now."

Denys Shortt, chairman of the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership, urged the government to make its plans for the A45/A46 Tollbar island scheme clear - and quickly.

He said: "We believe that we have a window of opportunity to solve a serious transport problem and thereby open up a development site of real and lasting potential for Coventry and Warwickshire, the region and the nation. That is good news but it is essential that any improvement to the road structure is fully integrated into the wider plans for development.

"The former Highways Agency scheme designed for Tollbar would have cost around £150m, but there is a private sector scheme on the table for £30m. Speed is absolutely key to the success of this scheme. Businesses need identifiable and relevant time frames on which to base their plans."