£2m boost for revamp of Glasshouse

An historic former glassworks has landed a £2 million grant to help transform the site into one of the Black Country's biggest tourist attractions.

Bosses from the Glasshouse centre in Amblecote, Stourbridge, have been working for more than a year to bring in cash to transform the Victorian site into a state-of-the-art glass, art and education centre.

And they were celebrating after officials from the Heritage Lottery Fund yesterday confirmed a grant of £2 million had been allocated to the site of the former Webb Corbett glassworks.

The cash will help transform delapidated buildings into a new arts centre and create new workshops for small businesses and heritage trails for visitors.

Plans are also under way to seek additional money from Advantage West Midlands and the Learning and Skills Council for initial building works costing up to £16 million.

The Glasshouse development will be led by the Ruskin Mill Educational Trust. Janine Christley, head of development, said: "This is a real recognition of the hard work of the trust and a shot in the arm for the regeneration of the Stourbridge Glass Quarter.

Lynda Waltho, MP for Stourbridge, today welcomed the announcement as "fantastic news" for Stourbridge and the region.