A flagship supermarket with a 400-space car park will be the centrepiece of the multi-million pound reinvigoration of Dudley’s ailing town centre, it can be revealed for the first time today.

Plans for the development in Castle Street will be submitted this summer with builders on site as soon as the end of the year, bosses say. Proposals for the 70,000sq ft store and underground car park are being hailed as “very exciting”.

Deputy council leader Councillor Les Jones said the project would pave the way for the “complete transformation of Dudley” in the next decade.

Talks have started with supermarkets to try to generate interest in the scheme and Rupert Dugdale, head of design and projects at Dudley Council, said the response had been encouraging.

“There is clearly a real need for a good quality food store in the town, and also the need for parking in the centre and that is what we are trying to achieve,” he said.

“We have prepared outline proposals and we are currently talking to potential food store operators to test their interest.

“The response so far has been positive. We would be looking to put in a planning application in June.”

Councillor Jones, also cabinet member for regeneration, said he hoped the project could start within months.