Scheme to create new jobs

Dec 9 2005 By Steve Johnson, Birmingham Mail

ADVANTAGE West Midlands has given the go-ahead for the acquisition of three properties in central Dudley as part of an innovative £12 million scheme to revitalise the town centre and create scores of new jobs.

The regional development agency has approved a funding application from Dudley Council to acquire adjoining premises at 202, 203 and 204 Wolverhampton Street.

The project is a key element of the Priory Street redevelopment scheme, designed to kick-start the regeneration of the town centre by transforming the site into a mix of specialist retailers and small businesses, bars, cafes and residential conversions on upper floors.

In June 2005, 201 Wolverhampton Street was acquired by the Council with funding from Advantage West Midlands.

The Priory Street scheme is expected to create around 80 new jobs, 15 new businesses, 2,200 sq metres of commercial floorspace and 32 apartments.

It will be funded through the Arc of Opportunity, the Agency's South Black Country and West Birmingham Regeneration Zone.

David Blake, Director for the Black Country at Advantage West Midlands, said: "The agency has a key role to support the acquisition, assembly and effective re-use of under-utilised sites and buildings in towns and cities across the region.

"A strong public sector partnership between the Agency and Dudley Council has assembled land and buildings full of history and character in the Priory Street area, which will be an attractive proposition to developers in the private sector."

Councillor Les Jones, Cabinet Member for Regeneration at Dudley Council, said: "This is a welcome boost for Dudley particularly in the light of the recent launch of the Black Country Study with its focus on tourism playing a major part in the regeneration of the town centre."

Stewart Towe, Chairman of the Arc of Opportunity said: "The Priory Street redevelopment scheme forms part of the long-term strategy for transformational change in Dudley to which we are proud to contribute."