A blueprint to demolish the eyesore Cavendish House and kick-start an £82 million retail and leisure development in Dudley town centre will go before planners next week.

The outline planning application submitted by developers Avenbury seeks permission to demolish Cavendish House and a number of other surrounding buildings. They include the former B&Q building, the former Rickshaw restaurant, a taxi office, a disused scout hut and the former Metro Bar pub.

As part of the same application, the developers are looking for the green light to put a mix of shops, restaurants, bars, offices, homes and hotels on the land.

Dudley Council planning officers are recommending approval of the application, with a final decision made by the authority’s development control committee at a meeting on Tuesday next week. The report says it would provide a “significant regeneration opportunity” for Dudley town centre and complement a proposed new £20 million interchange to serve buses and the proposed Metro extension to Brierley Hill. Alan Lunt, strategic director for place and deputy chief executive, said:

"Cavendish House has been a blot on the landscape in Dudley town centre for a long, long time. We welcome the submission of the planning application which, if approved, will see the building finally come down and work start on another exciting development for the borough.

"Along with the new bus and tram interchange, and the proposed Metro extension from Wednesbury to Brierley Hill which will run through Dudley, it promises an exciting future for Dudley.”

The meeting to discuss the application starts at 6pm on Tuesday at Dudley Council House in Priory Road. Members of the public are welcome to attend.