More than 30 apartments are to be built in Dudley town centre as part of an ongoing blueprint to improve a key gateway into the town.

Plans to build five two-bedroom flats by extending the upper floor of Trident House, on Wolverhampton Street, have been approved by Dudley Council planning officers under delegated powers. It also includes work to improve the entrance of the Trident Centre below for shoppers.

It comes after plans to build 29 further apartments by converting office space above the shopping centre were approved by officers in February this year.

The development ties in with continued plans to improve Wolverhampton Street, considered a key gateway into Dudley town centre.

Dudley Council demolished a derelict furniture store further up the road two years ago, with plans to build 12 new council homes on the site.

And in 2018 the near £600,000 transformation of the eyesore and long derelict former Merlins wine bar was completed, with MET Recruitment moving into the new-look building. Councillor Ian Kettle, cabinet member for regeneration and enterprise, said:

“This development will significantly improve the appearance of the Wolverhampton Street side of the Trident Centre, while providing much-needed new accommodation in the town.

“It ties in with our wider plans to regenerate Wolverhampton Street, a key gateway into the town centre.

“With plenty of other schemes going on in Dudley town centre, including the redevelopment of Cavendish House and the new Metro line, it will redefine the town for a generation.”