Plans in for multimillion-pound innovation centre

Plans to create a multimillion-pound innovation hub which will support the development of very light rail technology in the West Midlands have been submitted. Dudley Council, in partnership with Warwick Manufacturing Group, has submitted a planning application for the centre which includes a pedestrian foot bridge linking the building to Tipton Road, the future Metro line and car parking.When completed, the new building will include meeting rooms, laboratories, teaching facilities, exhibition and conference space, a large engineering workshop and 2km twin test tracks which will include test platforms.Research at the hub will investigate ways to reduce the weight and cost of railcars and track, enabling the creation of lower-cost connections between suburban and rural areas and providing a cheaper alternative to heavy rail and traditional ‘Metro’ urban transport systems.Work to create the centre was given a boost in October 2017 when the council was awarded more than £18m by the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership. In total, the project is expected to cost in the region of £29m.The planning application is expected to be determined in the spring. A separate planning application for the test track was submitted to the council’s planning department at the end of October and is waiting to be determined.The proposed test track will be located along approximately 2km of disused railway line.