Dudley's skyline to be transformed as Cavendish House set to go (From Dudley News)

Dudley's skyline to be transformed as Cavendish House set to go

2:30pm Tuesday 8th January 2013 in Local

DUDLEY’S skyline is to be transformed as a town centre eyesore gets the green light to be demolished.

Members of the Development Control Committee approved plans submitted by landowner Cavendish Quarter Properties Ltd to tear down Cavendish House on Trindle Road and build a food store, underground car parking and petrol station in its place.

As well as demolishing the derelict eight storey former social security building, which has long blighted the town, the developers are also set to clear a row of vacant properties to build the yet un-named retailer store and petrol station, creating 300 permanent jobs.

Praising the application, committee member Councillor Tim Wright, said: “This is an excellent application which ticks all the boxes “We’ve seen Halesowen, Brierley Hill and Stourbridge regenerated, so now it’s time Dudley was.

“We’ve got the colleges sorted, so now let’s get the retail sorted. I don’t see why this committee should stall the development of Dudley.”

Despite two members of the committee abstaining from the vote, stating the development would isolate the town centre, the application was passed on a majority.

There are also a further two applications for the same site yet undetermined by the committee, which both propose a supermarket and a petrol station.

One of the applications, submitted by Avenbury, which owns part of Cavendish Quarter and vacant land next to the bus station, is also seeking permission to build new shops, a restaurant, a two-storey car park and a public square.