Members of Dudley Council's cabinet will be asked to give the go ahead for the next phase in securing a compulsory purchase order in Colley Gate, at a meeting later this month.

Planning permission was secured earlier this year for a block of eight apartments on a site currently occupied by four derelict shops, which are standing empty on the corner of Colley Gate and Colley Lane.

The apartments will be built by Dudley Council and provide affordable housing to people on the council’s housing waiting list.

The council currently owns one of the properties (128 Colley Lane) and is in the process of acquiring the remaining three however, to date it has received limited response from the landowner

At the meeting of the cabinet on December 14, members will be asked to approve the next phase in securing a compulsory purchase order so the council can acquire the properties should negotiations with the landowner prove unsuccessful. Councillor Simon Phipps, cabinet member for regeneration and enterprise, said:

"We have attempted to contact the landowner on numerous occasions with limited success to date. We now have no choice but to move forward with the compulsory purchase order.

"These shops have stood empty and derelict for long enough and we want to get this redevelopment underway as quickly as possible. We remain committed to regenerating this corner of our borough."