Invest Dudley Town Centre

Dudley Council is seeking investors to work in partnership with the council to develop a series of key housing, retail, leisure and employment sites on land in Dudley town centre. The aim is to secure investment within Dudley town centre by securing investment for the development of key sites, including those in council ownership, with associated improvements to the public realm and urban environment.

Overview

The aims of the investment programme are to take a multi-dimensional approach to:

  • Develop the visitor economy offer through investment into the Castle Hill visitor attractions;
  • Promote new retail, leisure, commercial and housing uses within the town centre;
  • Bring about improvements of heritage assets and underutilised opportunity sites and buildings. They will create improved conditions to enable the private sector to invest in the town; bring vacant premises back into use; and improve accessibility to generate increased levels of visitor spend.

 

Project Description

Scale: £110m GDV
Sector: Mixed use- housing, employment and leisure

The project comprises a number of significant (vacant) sites in a highly desirable location. The proposed development of a new Midland Metro tram line through Dudley town centre, complemented by a new Bus Interchange by 2022 will ensure that the town centre is well connected to the remainder of Dudley and the wider region.

Development of the sites will help Dudley in delivering a step change in terms of economic development and regeneration. The sites available for development will not only complement the planned Portersfield retail, residential and leisure development but will be part of a package of over £500 million of investment planned for the town centre in the next five years. In addition to transport improvements and a new 'Very light Rail' innovation centre, backed by Warwick Manufacturing Group will begin construction in 2018, providing a test track and innovation centre for an exciting light rail solution and incubator space for start-ups focusing on the new technologies that Very Light Rail will bring.

A new Institute of Technology, offering qualifications in modern manufacturing technologies will bring a further 500 students into the Town Centre and the £21 million ‘Forging Ahead’ initiative will see the Black Country Living Museum expand further in the years ahead. Working effectively with the adjacent Dudley Zoo – also home to the Medieval Dudley Castle and also Dudley Canal Trust, the projections indicate a major opportunity to significantly develop the visitor offer in the town centre.