"PEOPLE can see that the skyline of the town centre is changing and we are making good on our word to regenerate the town and create a place where people want to live, work or visit."

That’s the message from Dudley Council leader Patrick Harley as confirmation was given to begin the £24 million reconstruction of Dudley’s bus station and Metro interchange.

The tired and dated bus station off Birmingham Street, one of the busiest in the West Midlands, is to be transformed into a new travel hub to ‘better connect the people of Dudley to leisure and job opportunities across the region’.

Transport for West Midlands has announced that construction work will commence at the beginning of 2024 ahead of the impressive new interchange opening in 2025, which will offer a modern, accessible environment as well as seamless connections between bus and Metro services.

The interchange is just one in a series of major regeneration projects which are transforming Dudley town centre, including the Portersfield development. This also follows recent developments at the Very Light Rail Innovation Centre, Black Country Living Museum and the Black Country and Marches Institute of Technology.

Councillor Patrick Harley, leader of Dudley Council, said: “We are making great progress in Dudley town centre. With the upcoming demolition of the old bus station, people can see that the skyline of the town centre is changing once again and we are making good on our word to regenerate the town and create a place where people want to live, work or visit.

“The interchange will be a hub for transport in the town and will make it easier for people travelling by bus and tram. It will be a very proud moment for me when the new Interchange opens.”

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, added: “This Interchange will vastly improve public transport connections for Dudley town centre visitors and businesses – giving local people the more modern, convenient and environmentally friendly bus and tram facilities they deserve.

“We have Metro tracks being laid for the first phase of the Metro extension in the town centre, have been working on cross-city bus routes to improve reliability of services into Dudley and are developing and extending cycle lanes across the borough.

“This will help to offer local people safe and convenient alternatives to the car – reducing road traffic congestion. This announcement comes just after we were able to confirm funding to deliver the second phase of the Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Metro extension in full. This is a great time for public transport in the Black Country and for the regeneration of Dudley town centre. I look forward to seeing the Interchange take shape in the months ahead.”

The work is being carried out alongside the development of phase one of the Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Metro extension which is being delivered for TfWM by Midland Metro Alliance.

Demolition of the 1986 built bus station means bus stops will be temporarily relocated to Tower Street and Ednam Road. TfWM and bus operators publish detailed information in the weeks leading up to closure.