Dudley Council have submitted a bid for up to £16 million of funding to breathe new life into Brierley Hill High Street.

Council bosses have put forward an expression of interest on behalf of Brierley Hill in the Government’s £675 million Future High Streets Fund. The initiative was announced by Chancellor Philip Hammond in December last year to help reinvigorate beleaguered high streets.

The fund, which opened on Boxing Day and offers sums of up to £25 million, will allow councils to plough money into transport and supporting new commercial, retail and leisure activity and new homes.

If successful, the cash will be used in Brierley Hill to try and encourage the introduction of more housing to the High Street. It will also establish an improvement programme for older heritage buildings, improve transport infrastructure and be used to work with the private sector to bring in new investment to the town. Councillor Qadar Zada, leader of the council, said:

"With the Metro coming into Brierley Hill, and the reinvigoration of the Waterfront thanks to the DY5 Enterprise Zone, this is the perfect time to be looking at investing money in Brierley Hill High Street.

"The cash would allow us to breathe new life into both the housing and retail offer there, and is much needed. As it is a national pot there is bound to be stiff competition, but we are hopeful we have an attractive proposition on the table and we look forward to hearing the response.”

An announcement on successful bids for the scheme is expected to be made in the summer.