Final curtain for former theatre after Gove backs demolition
THE demolition of the old Dudley Hippodrome is go ahead after the Government decided not to intervene in the planning decision to bulldoze it.
Planners approved the move last month but opponents asked Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, to intervene.
Mr Gove has now told Dudley Council that he is content with the planning decision over the old theatre venue, which once hosted the likes of Bing Crosby and Laurel and Hardy but has stood empty for many years.
Cllr Simon Phipps, Dudley cabinet member for regeneration and enterprise, said: “We are pleased the secretary of state has concluded that intervention is not necessary in this case.
‘‘This has been a long, drawn-out process but we owe it to the people of Dudley and students of the future to get this done.
“The fact that we are now clear to move forward with the demolition of the building means that we are one step closer to creating a first-class higher education facility that will boost jobs, training and the local economy.”
Earlier this year it was confirmed a bid for £25 million to the Government’s Towns Fund to finance the project had been successful.
The bid has been drawn up by the Towns Fund Board – a partnership between the council, Dudley College of Technology, the University of Worcester, tourist attractions and other key organisations in the borough. The development will include a university-style campus and will provide higher education courses for the health sector.
It is expected the new facility will be up and running by the autumn of 2024. 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.
The facility will form part of a wider £1 billion package of regeneration projects in Dudley including the Midland Metro extension, very light rail innovation centre and new Duncan Edwards Leisure Centre.