Vacant Dudley office block to be turned into apartments (From Dudley News)

Vacant Dudley office block to be turned into apartments

9:00am Sunday 17th March 2013 in News

A VACANT three-storey Dudley office block is set to be transformed into 12 apartments after councillors give the thumbs up to plans.

Nexia House, on The Broadway, will be converted into two one-bed and 10 two-bed apartments after Dudley Council’s development control committee unanimously passed through the plans for the 1960’s building.

Despite concerns from neighbours about the presence of Japanese knotweed on the site, which is located opposite Dudley College’s new Evolve campus, council planners confirmed the plant had not been discovered so could not be taken into account by the committee.

Councillors also heard how the developers will retain the current undercroft parking and the emergency exit external staircase at the rear of the building for residents.

Councillor Tim Wright, said: “It’s good to see the town centre actually becoming inhabited as the town centre gets more regeneration. I thoroughly welcome this application.”

Committee chair, cllr Rachel Harris, also vowed to pass on the neighbour’s concerns about the Japanese knotweed to relevant council departments for investigation.