Blueprints for a £24 million transport interchange in Dudley have been given the green light prompting praise from council bosses.

Dudley Council’s development control committee approved the plans for the transport hub on the site in the centre of Dudley.

The project will see the existing bus station, which dates back to the 1980s and is the oldest in the West Midlands, demolished to make way for a modern bus and Metro tram interchange.

The first phase of the Metro extension, between Wednesbury and Dudley town centre, is currently under construction and set to open in 2024 when it will offer frequent services to Wolverhampton and Birmingham. This line will be further extended to Brierley Hill, including a stop at the Merry Hill Shopping Centre, during the project’s second phase.

Council bosses welcomed the planning approval. Councillor Simon Phipps, cabinet member for regeneration an enterprise, said:

"This transport interchange is a key part of more than £1billion worth of regeneration activity in Dudley and the planning committee’s decision will be welcomed by many.

"When complete, this scheme will revolutionise how people visit and commute to and from this borough and provides an excellent boost for public transport. I am delighted to see this important programme of work gathering pace."

The council will now press ahead with securing the remaining land via a Compulsory Purchase Order process and for Transport for West Midlands to engage with the design consultant to develop the detailed design in readiness for tendering and appointing the build contractor.

The £24 million funding for the scheme is primarily sourced from the region’s Transforming Cities Fund allocation from the Department for Transport.