TORY politicians for Brierley Hill have been celebrating the news that a bid for a new £16m Transport Technologies Centre for upskilling has moved a step closer.

The Department for Levelling Up has confirmed Dudley Council's bid to fund a new £16m Transport Technologies Centre has taken a step closer to becoming reality after passing to the next stage of the application process.

The proposed education facility, which would be run by Dudley College, would offer local people of all ages chance to get new training, qualifications and pathways to careers in electric and hybrid vehicles as well as other modern transport systems.

Having been approved by central government last November, the bid has now passed the validation stage which looked at revised costings of all successful bids made to the Government's Levelling Up fund.

Helen Martin, director of regeneration and enterprise at Dudley Council, confirmed: “The council has recently received confirmation from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) that our bid has passed the validation process.

“The next step will see DLUHC issue a document to the council setting out the terms of the grant award, and any conditions that need to be met.”

Brierley Hill and Wordsley South councillor Adam Davies said a Memorandum of Understanding is to be issued by the DLUHC which will allow the first tranche of 2024/25 funds to be released to the council – enabling Dudley College to start next stage design work.

He said: "We want local people to have as many routes as possible to the well-paid jobs of the future, and having access to the training and qualifications that employers are looking for is crucial to that.

"Having this region-leading centre right here in Brierley Hill will be a new gateway to a successful career for hundreds of local people each and every year, so we're incredibly pleased the project has now made this crucial step forward."

Cllr Wayne Little added: "I'm really excited that this further investment will soon be taking place here in Brierley Hill. It will bring huge opportunities for students and people wanting to re-skill for the future and keep our area at the cutting edge of technological advances."

Land behind Dudley College of Technology’s existing 'Inspired' campus on Venture Way is earmarked for the centre, which will be a 2,900-square-metre modern facility with workshops to service traditional motor and transport, plus modern electrical and alternative fuel systems, together with engineering and automation laboratories servicing driverless technologies.

Work is expected to get underway in 2025, with a 2026 completion date touted.

Suzanne Webb, the Conservative candidate for the Stourbridge constituency which now includes the Brierley Hill and Wordsley South ward, said local councillors have “done a brilliant job” working with the officials and Dudley Council to “bang the drum for this new facility”.

She added: "It will bring new training and upskilling opportunities to the area for people right across the Stourbridge constituency and give employers in the sector a reason to base their businesses here too.

"I hope to be able to work with Adam, Wayne, the Town Board, the council and Dudley College to make this centre a huge success if I'm elected on July 4."