A £1.25 million apartment block is set to be built on the site of a derelict former furniture store in Dudley.

Dudley Council has demolished the former Welcome Homes Designs furniture store after buying the site earlier this year and plans have now been submitted to replace it with a three storey apartment block, which will provide 12 one bedroom apartments.

The new homes, on the corner of Wolverhampton Street and School Street, will add to the authority's growing stock of new council homes and will be funded through the council’s right to buy receipts.

Councillor Laura Taylor, Dudley's cabinet member for housing, said: “We’re crying out for opportunities to develop new homes in the borough and although there have been many significant housing projects in Dudley as part of its ongoing regeneration, we’re always looking for new sites, which are available for redevelopment.

“In the case of the old furniture store, its demolition is already beginning to transform the look of the area and if the planning application is successful, it’ll be a significant milestone in our efforts to transform the once eyesore building into fantastic new affordable homes.”

A decision on the planning application is expected early next year.

If successful, work should begin by spring.