£1million boost for Dudley town centre transformation

Dudley Council has secured almost £1million to help transform Dudley town centre, supporting businesses, attracting investment and creating a stronger future for residents and visitors.

Dudley Council has secured almost £1million to help transform Dudley town centre, supporting businesses, attracting investment and creating a stronger future for residents and visitors.

The council has secured £944,444 through the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA)’s High Street Growth & Incubator Programme. The funding will be provided over the next three years to strengthen the town centre and build on major regeneration projects already underway.

It will complement significant investment in Dudley, including the Metro extension, the new Dudley Interchange, regeneration schemes and heritage projects.

Councillor Patrick Harley, Leader of Dudley Council, said:

“Dudley is already changing, and this £944,444 investment gives us another opportunity to build on the transformation taking place through the Metro, the Interchange and wider regeneration projects. As town centres evolve, we are determined to create new reasons for people to live, visit, invest and do business in Dudley.

“With around 10 million visitors coming to the borough each year, we have a unique opportunity to better connect our world-class attractions with the town centre and ensure investment benefits residents, businesses and visitors alike.

“We want local people, traders, businesses and community organisations to help shape that future, which is why we will launch a Big Conversation in January. Together, we will develop an ambitious vision for a town centre that supports businesses, attracts investment, celebrates our heritage and creates new opportunities for generations to come.”

The funding will support a programme of work designed to improve the town centre and strengthen its role as a destination for business, investment and leisure.

Plans include support for start-ups and growing businesses, initiatives to boost the visitor and evening economies, events and activities that increase footfall, improvements to public spaces and wayfinding, and work to attract further investment.

The programme will also explore opportunities to bring more people into the town centre through new housing, helping create a vibrant destination throughout the day and evening.

In addition to the positive news on the WMCA town centre funding, the Government has confirmed a further £3 million allocation for Dudley Council through the Derelict Buildings Fund to support the reuse and regeneration of long-term vacant and derelict buildings. The fund will provide an opportunity to bring prominent buildings back into productive use, support new community and commercial activity, increase footfall and help tackle visible signs of decline across the borough. The funding will complement existing investment programmes already underway across Dudley and help unlock additional regeneration opportunities.

Dudley already attracts around 10 million visitors a year, with major attractions including Dudley Zoo and Castle, the Black Country Living Museum and the UNESCO Global Geopark. Improvements to transport links through the Metro and Interchange will help connect those attractions more closely with the town centre, encouraging visitors to spend more time and money locally.

Alongside the current investment programme, the Council will develop a long-term vision for Dudley town centre, bringing together transport, regeneration, culture, heritage and economic development to create a thriving, connected and sustainable place for future generations. Local people, businesses and community organisations will play a central role in shaping that vision through a major Big Conversation launching in January.

The vision will be supported by a strategic programme that brings together investment, projects, services and partnerships across the town centre within a single framework, enabling all activity to be seen, coordinated and delivered as one. In doing so, it will strengthen Dudley's identity, maximise collective impact and create a stronger sense of place for residents, businesses and visitors alike.