Approval tipped for £82m mixed-use town centre scheme

Up to 500 jobs could be created after an £82m plan to create 400 apartments and a 100-bedroom hotel, as well as shops, restaurants, bars, a cinema and offices, was recommended for approval.Avenbury (Dudley) is behind the Portersfield bid for land between Dudley Row, Duncan Edwards Way, Claughton Road North, St Joseph Street and Porters Field in the town.The proposal would also see 161,458 sq ft for shops, restaurants and cafes and drinking establishments as well as offices and assembly and leisure uses created as part of the major mixed-use development.A gym and student accommodation also form part of the plans.If approval is granted by Dudley Council on Tuesday 9 April, the eight-storey Cavendish House would be demolished as well as the former B&Q building and other properties, principally shops, to the northern side of Hall Street between Trindle Road and Duncan Edwards Way.The application also called for the demolition of all of the buildings within the triangle of and bounded by Trindle Road, Porters Field and St Joseph’s Street, including St Joseph’s Court, the former Rickshaw restaurant, a taxi office, a disused Scout hut and the former Metro Bar pub.