80 jobs up for grabs at new Dudley food outlets
Multi-million pound plans for four new restaurants and cafes at Dudley's Castlegate Business Park, creating more than 80 jobs, have been unveiled.
A Hungry Horse pub, a Costa Coffee cafe and a KFC restaurant will be built on land by the existing Premier Inn hotel. A fourth unit will also be constructed on the site, off Castlegate Drive, with developers hoping to attract another restaurant to the complex.
Council leaders today welcomed the plans as a boost to the ongoing regeneration of Dudley.
The plans, which have been submitted to Dudley Council by Dominic Stokes from Stoford Properties Ltd say the project will create around 80 full-time equivalent jobs.
The Hungry Horse pub, run by Greene King, will alone employ up to 20 full-time and 40 part-time workers – with bosses pledging to recruit from the local area.
The application says the development 'supports the development of Castle Hill and Dudley town centre by providing complementary visitor facilities'.
The borough's regeneration boss Councillor Khurshid Ahmed said: "Any proposals to create jobs and investment is good news for the borough.
"Obviously this will need to go through the normal planning process to be determined, but it does show that Dudley is an attractive place for major, national brands to invest.
"We are supportive of any scheme which complements the exciting and innovative developments we have already put in place or are on the drawing board in Dudley town centre including very light rail, the new market place and the expansion of Dudley College.
"This all has a huge impact on our well publicised ambition to bring more tourists and visitors to Dudley than ever before by investing in areas such as Castle Hill."
Council leader Pete Lowe said he was looking forward to viewing the full plans, adding: "It sounds very positive news for Dudley and is another way we are all working together to regenerate our town."
It is the latest regeneration scheme to be unveiled in recent months in Dudley.
Plans for the ambitious £50m Porters Field project with a supermarket, shops and cafe are also being drawn up.
Avenbury Developments is undertaking the scheme, which would bring 500 jobs to the town.
Eyesore office block Cavendish House will be demolished to make way for a modern store and a stylish public piazza.
Bosses say that the project will take shape at the Birmingham Street entrance to Churchill Precinct.
