Dudley Council has been awarded over £1.1million in grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund through the Townscape Heritage Programme.

The money, which is raised by National Lottery players, will be used in the second phase of HLF support for the regeneration of Dudley town centre.

The first phase of the Dudley Historic Townscape Heritage scheme was completed in 2015. The £4million works included the repair and re-use of 17 historic buildings, including the Old Glasshouse and Baylies Hall in Tower Street.

The recently awarded HLF grant of over £1.1million will allow work to enhance up to 14 historic buildings, linking Dudley’s retail area to the Civic Quarter. Accompanied by funding through Dudley Council, up to £1.5million in grants will help enable the repair and reuse of historic buildings and the reinstatement of lost architectural features.

Investment is planned to make Dudley town centre a more pleasant and attractive place to work, shop and visit, with beneficial knock-on effects for local businesses and traders. Vanessa Harbar, Head of HLF West Midlands, said:

“We’re delighted that money raised by National Lottery players can support Dudley Council to continue the regeneration of Dudley’s historic town centre. Our Townscape Heritage programme helps to bring some of the UK’s best-loved historic townscapes back to life, celebrating our rich heritage and boosting local communities.

"This latest investment will enable the restoration of some of the Dudley’s most historic buildings, alongside a great programme of community activities and opportunities.”

Councillor Khurshid Ahmed, cabinet member for planning and economic development, added:

“We are thrilled to be successful with our application for this funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, which will help us as we continue to transform and breathe new life into Dudley town centre.

“This second phase of investment, which will run over the next four years and will see the restoration of some of the town centre’s key properties. I’m confident this will help to attract many new businesses to our town centre.

“Exciting changes have already been taking place in the town centre over the last few years including the new marketplace and public toilets, rededicated Duncan Edwards Statue and refurbished fountain, new seating, lighting and public art.

“As well as this we are working closely with the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership in order to secure further funding to enhance even more buildings in the town.”

Dudley Council was initially awarded in 2008 an HLF grant of £1.9million for the Dudley Historic Townscape Heritage Scheme to redevelop Dudley Town Centre’s Civic Quarter, which was completed in 2015. The next phase of the project was secured in June 2016 when Dudley Council was awarded a further £1,178,000 HLF grant to progress its latest renovation plans.