Exciting time for Dudley as university plans move forward

Earlier this year Dudley Council submitted a bid to the Towns Fund to help finance the majority of the Higher Education complex, which has now been approved.

Robert Jenrick, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government visited Dudley on July 15 to see the Towns Fund financed project first-hand.

He got to tour Castle Hill with the leader of the council, Andrew Lovett from the Towns Fund Board and Neil Thomas from Dudley College

MP Robert Jenrick also visited Bloxwich which has also received £21.3 million of the Town Fund.

Robert Jenrick, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and leader of Dudley council Patrick Harley.

The MP said: "It was great to visit Bloxwich and Dudley today to witness their ambitious plans to spend £46.3 million Government investment to revitalise their town centres.

“This funding will support the creation of a new University Centre in Dudley, unlocking new opportunities locally. It will also support local businesses, boost digital connectivity in Bloxwich and create new public spaces to promote better health and wellbeing in the community.

“We have given 15 town deals to places across the West Midlands also including Hereford, Telford and Wolverhampton, totalling £300 million, to ensure the region is at the forefront of our drive to level up every part of the country.”

CGI of the university park proposed for Dudley.

Councillor Patrick Harley, leader of Dudley Council, said: "This is fantastic news, and I am delighted that the secretary of state personally gave the project backing with a visit to the town today.

"This money will help progress this project at pace. We have made our intentions clear to lead the way when it comes to education, innovation and employment and this work does exactly that.

"We must now seize the momentum and continue with this already impressive development.”

The bid has been drawn up by the Towns Fund Board – a partnership between the council, Dudley College of Technology, University of Worcester, tourist attractions and other key organisations in Dudley.

CGI of the university park proposed for Dudley.

Dudley’s scheme includes a ‘university’ style campus and will provide higher education courses for the health sector.

Dudley College of Technology agreed to work alongside the council to develop the new facility, after building up a degree of expertise through the development of the Dudley Learning Quarter and the creation of the Black Country and Marches Institute of Technology.

The teaching and learning that will take place will be driven by the University of Worcester.

Andrew Lovett, chair of the Towns Fund Board, added: "At a time when so many of Dudley’s projects have begun to take shape, including at Black Country Living Museum, of course, this funding will help fulfil the ambitions of everyone in the Borough.

"As we all emerge from the worst impacts of the pandemic, these developments have even greater importance to peoples’ lives."

The project is another piece in the £1billion regeneration masterplan which has continued to drive forward at pace, despite the restrictions caused by the pandemic.

Neil Thomas, chief executive and principal of Dudley College of Technology, said: "This marks an exciting time for the borough and is one more piece in the jigsaw of the tremendous regeneration that is taking place.

"The Dudley bid will help our area recover from the Covid-19 pandemic by increasing higher education opportunities locally.

"By providing training we will be able to lead individuals in to employment, in jobs where the demand for skilled workers out strips the number of people who currently hold the right qualifications for these roles. Roles in health, life-sciences, care and medical sectors."

Dudley was one of 100 areas across the country invited to bid for a slice of the £178.7 million Towns Fund.