Plans move forward on £18m bus and tram interchange in Dudley

Dudley Council bosses have granted outline planning permission for the state-of-the-art facility, which would see the existing bus station demolished.

It would be replaced by a two-storey glass-fronted building, which would act as a station for buses and West Midland Metro trams.

The building ties in with the £449 million West Midlands Metro project, which will see a new tram service run between Wednesbury and Brierley Hill. The line is due to open by 2023.

The application for the interchange has been submitted by Transport for West Midlands, which is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority.

Councillors on Dudley Council's development control committee last night gave the green light to approve outline planning permission.

It means, in principle, the council has granted permission for such a development to take place on the land, off Fisher Street.

Councillor Khurshid Ahmed, cabinet member for regeneration, planning and economic investment, said: "I am delighted that this much-needed development is now a step closer to becoming reality.

"The bus station is the second busiest in the West Midlands by passenger numbers.

"This development would represent another major step forward in terms of improving in local transport and connectivity for Dudley, and for the general regeneration in the town centre.”

Now an application for full planning permission must be submitted and approved before work can start.

As part of the project, a partly-vacant Co-Operative and Farm Foods store would also be demolished, as well as a former photography studio and warehouse unit in Birmingham Street.

A cash boost of £10 million for the project was given by the West Midlands Combined Authority in November.