PEOPLE are being asked to have their say to help shape £25million regeneration blueprints for a major gateway into Dudley.

The Dudley Towns Fund Board and Dudley Council are working on regeneration plans for the Castle Hill area with government funding in the pipeline to develop Dudley Zoo and Castle, create a new ‘university’ complex with Dudley College and improve public open spaces in the town.

The scheme includes a ‘university’ style campus led by Dudley College which will provide higher education courses for the health sector.

The college agreed to work alongside the council to develop the new facility, after building up a degree of expertise through the development of the Dudley Learning Quarter. The teaching and learning that will take place will be driven by the University of Worcester and the new facility is expected to be up and running by autumn 2023.

At Dudley Zoo and Castle there are planned repairs to the Tecton structures at Dudley Zoo as well as improvements to the elephant house, bird house and Queen Mary ballroom. There are also plans for a training and education complex.

People are now invited to have their say on the plans – the latest part of a £1billion masterplan which also includes the metro extension, very light rail and a new transport interchange.

Councillor Patrick Harley, leader of Dudley Council, said: "It is vital we get the views of local people to make sure we have a development that people have helped to shape.

"We want to hear what people think about the proposals to enhance the tourism offer at the zoo and castle, the new university park and the public spaces in the town.

"It’s important all these things happen with people at the heart of them.

"The regeneration that is taking place in Dudley will see some of the biggest changes in the town in a generation – people are very much a part of that."

People can have their say by visiting regeneratingdudley.org.uk