'A saving to the taxpayer': Dudley Council close to surprise deal on health centre following months of speculation

The lease on the privately owned building will expire in March 2026 and negotiations to secure the future of the health centre and library based there are reaching a conclusion.

While it appeared Conservative-run Dudley Council was working to renew the lease, it now seems the authority is finalising purchase of the site from current owners Aviva.

Dudley Council leader, Cllr Patrick Harley said: “While we cannot disclose the final purchase cost for the centre yet due to commercially sensitive final discussions, I am very proud to say that due to this deal we anticipate a saving to the taxpayer over the next 25 years of around £15m and probably more.

“This comes from savings on paying rent and utilising the centre for other council services including a housing hub.

“Twenty five years ago, an expensive lease for Ladies Walk centre was signed off by a Labour-run Dudley council. It was our duty to get a better deal for the taxpayer whilst preserving those services.”

The end of the lease on Ladies Walk prompted concerns from residents and opposition politicians about what would happen at the centre if a deal could not be completed.

Dudley’s Labour MP, Sonia Kumar, took her fears to Westminster; in May 2025 she presented a petition to the House of Commons calling on the government to ‘to communicate urgently with the owners of the Ladies Walk centre property, Dudley council and the NHS to secure the centre and stop its closure’.

Reform UK’s Marco Longhi faced allegations of implying the building would be used to house asylum seekers after he called on Ms Kumar to ask the Home Office for clarification.

In October 2025, Mr Longhi said: “To be clear: I never implied or spread such rumours, what I did was to stand up for local people: I interjected and said that everybody should be heard – including people who were fearful of the building’s future use.”

Conservative candidate for Sedgley in May’s local elections, Bill Etheridge, said: “Local politicians have whipped up worry and concerns over this much-loved facility simply to stroke their own egos and enhance their fast-diminishing electoral prospects.”