LOTTERY funded regeneration works to improve historic buildings in Dudley town centre are set to run until the end of next year.

The Townscape Heritage Programme, funded through the National Lottery Heritage fund, offers grant help to carry our repair, reinstatement and refurbishment works to historic buildings.

Dudley Council received £2.8 million of investment for the town during phase one of the programme.

Phase two will now see the release of a further £1.5 million of funding, including £1.2 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, with an extension granted due to delays caused by the pandemic

Work is underway at Plaza Mall, a former Woolworth’s building dating from 1935, and at the Fountain Arcade.

The work to Plaza Mall will see original tiles being revealed, repaired and restored, windows reinstated to their historic form and the shopfront being enhanced.

The Fountain Arcade will see repairs to the stonework, brickwork and windows, as well as new shopfronts.

The buildings will have scaffolding to the exterior during works, but businesses remain open as normal.

Work is also taking place at historic properties on Wolverhampton Street, including 204a Wolverhampton Street, where scaffolding has been put up and work is underway.

Councillor Simon Phipps, Dudley Council's cabinet member for economic regeneration, said: "The Townscape Heritage Programme is injecting an additional £1.5 million public funding into the town and it will help us to preserve and enhance some of our most significant buildings.

"The pandemic has naturally caused delays to some of the phase two works, but we are continuing at pace and we look forward to completing the phase two programme at the end of next year."

Activities also play a part in the project, including participation in annual Heritage Open Days, production of heritage, geological and art trails and educational resources.

The council is also working with partners and volunteers to record memories of people who have grown up and lived in Dudley and to produce artistic material inspired by Dudley’s heritage.

More information is online at dudleypeoplesarchive.com/growing-up-in-dudley