Dudley post office homes plan go-ahead

Dudley's former post office will be transformed into 21 apartments – paving the way for a housing boom in the town centre.

It comes hot on the heels of plans to convert old council offices into more than 90 homes.

Council bosses want to encourage more people to live in the town centre to help boost its regeneration. They say shops and businesses in the town will benefit from increased trade.

Dudley North MP Ian Austin joined leading councillors today in welcoming the scheme for the old post office which has been lying empty for more than 10 years.

Mr Austin called the move a 'great idea' and welcomed further innovative ways to increase the number of homes in the centre while revitalising old buildings.

"I think that is a great idea and the more people living in and around the town centre the more it will help shops and businesses," he said.

Dudley councillor Judy Foster, who is in charge of regeneration projects, said:

"One of the key parts of our regeneration strategy for Dudley town centre is to diversify what the town offers and to have a good mix of retail, business and residential properties."

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The post office, at the corner of Wolverhampton Street and Priory Street, was last used as a nightclub called Nulla Nulla a decade ago, but has since been empty. Proposals for the transformation of the building were approved by the council's planning committee this week.

The council has already announced plans for the sale of 12 council buildings in Dudley, including properties in Ednam Road and St James' Road, which will be converted into 90 new homes in the town centre.

Officials say new uses should be found for empty properties in the town centre .

Bosses are currently reducing the number of buildings that are used by workers in the Dudley borough under plans to bring in £3.6 million.