Express & Star

Dudley's Cavendish House to be sold at auction

Eyesore office block Cavendish House in Dudley is to be sold at an auction - sparking fears major regeneration plans could be thrown into doubt.

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It is the latest twist in the long-running saga over the future of the derelict building which has been the subject of discussions for a number of years.

The office block has been given a guide price of between £1.2 million and £1.5 million and is to be sold off through property consultants and auctioneers Allsop. The auction will be held on October 20.

Bosses from Abstract, the firm that owns the building, confirmed they had decided to sell the site saying there were 'opportunities elsewhere' they now wanted to focus on.

Director Chris McPherson said: "We have no axe to grind and if we could have found a way to make this work we would have.

"We originally purchased the building with the intention of building a health centre. Planning permission was granted but then the NHS went into its shell and we were left holding the baby."

Mr McPherson said they had been approached by supermarket chains interested in opening up and had submitted an alternative application which had also been granted.

But then Avenbury Developments had submitted plans for the site which had led to delays.

"As it has progressed it seems the council is more in favour of the Avenbury scheme," he said.

"We have now been approached by parties interested in perhaps refurbishing the building so decided the time was right to put it on the market."

Dudley Council today said it did not believe the sale would impact on existing plans for site - such as Avenbury's proposed £50 million Porters Field project.

The scheme would see restaurants, shops and houses built alongside a supermarket.

But the town's Conservative group said it did not see how the building could be sold without it affecting proposals.

Tory leader, Councillor Patrick Harley said: "I personally cannot believe the sale of Cavendish House will have no impact on the planned regeneration scheme.

"Everything hinges on what happens to that building. At the end of the day this will bring another party to the table who will have their own plans.

"If what happens to Cavendish House is not what the council is expecting I cannot any developer investing in the site in the same way."

But the council's cabinet member for regeneration councillor Khurshid Ahmed said they would be continuing to work with developers about existing plans.

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