End in sight over eyesore Dudley building Cavendish House
An application to demolish eyesore office block Cavendish House is expected within weeks - kick-starting long-awaited plans for a multi-million retail development.
The proposals for the site have been hit by a series of delays but developers appear to be ready to go-ahead with the scheme.
Dudley Council leader Patrick Harley revealed he had held discussions with owners Avenbury and that a planning application was expected in July.
The derelict building has stood empty on one of the major gateways to Dudley for years, overlooking the Duncan Edwards Way bypass.
A masterplan for the site would see the office block bulldozed to be replaced by a retail and shopping development.
Councillor Harley said: "The developers are due to put a planning application in in July. Once it gets in we can get cracking with getting rid of Cavendish House and redeveloping a whole section of the town.
"The town is desperate for a real injection to breathe fresh life into it.
"We will be looking to support it. Regeneration is what they town is crying out for. We have been waiting for Cavendish House to come down for many years."
A new twist in the saga surrounding Cavendish House emerged in April Avenbury wanted an access road connecting to Duncan Edwards Way to be created before it is knocked down.
But Councillor Harley said he did not see it holding up the development plans.
He said: "The access road will not be a problem. It will allow easy access from the bypass onto Hall Street."
Various schemes involving Cavendish House have been put forward over the years without coming to fruition and there has long been frustration about the eyesore building remaining disused.
If the building, off Trindle Road, is finally knocked down it is then hoped the area will be redeveloped creating homes, restaurants and shops.
Avenbury bought the site for £800,000 at a property auction in London in 2015.
