A BLUEPRINT to demolition a Dudley eyesore and replace it with a £82 million retail and lesiure development is expected to be approved next week.

The plan to demolish Cavendish House will go before the development control committee next Tuesday and is being recommended for approval by Dudley Council planning officers.

The outline planning permission submitted by developers Avenbury seeks permission to knock down the derelict building, along with the nearby former B&Q building, the former Rickshaw restaurant, a taxi office, a disused scout hut and the former Metro Bar pub.

Avenbury are also looking for permission to put a mix of shops, restaurants, bars, offices, homes and hotels on the land.

The report says it would provide a “significant regeneration opportunity” for Dudley town centre and complement a proposed new £20m interchange to serve buses and the proposed Metro extension to Brierley Hill.

Alan Lunt, strategic director for place and deputy chief executive, said: "Cavendish House has been a blot on the landscape in Dudley town centre for a long, long time.

"We welcome the submission of the planning application which, if approved, will see the building finally come down and work start on another exciting development for the borough.

"Along with the new bus and tram interchange, and the proposed Metro extension from Wednesbury to Brierley Hill which will run through Dudley, it promises an exciting future for Dudley.”

Work to demolish Cavendish House was expected to begin in March.