Plan for new faith centre in Brierley Hill

A new £7.5 million community and faith centre could be built in the heart of Brierley Hill under new plans unveiled today. The scheme would create new jobs for the town.

Anglican church leaders across Dudley are working together on proposals for the base which would also offer a large auditorium and a coffee shop. Project leader the Rev Pat Nimmo said the aim was to build a centre to be used by the whole community, regardless of whether they attend church.

There would be areas for people to use for quiet reflection and prayer and it would also be used as a base for chaplaincy work in the town centre.

A feasibility study into the project, funded by Dudley Council, has been drawn up and it is hoped the new centre will be built in the next two to three years.

Church leaders are now talking to developers and looking at funding options.

The cost of the new three-storey is building is expected to be around £7.5m.

The partnership includes the Baptist, Methodist, Anglican and Pentecostal churches as well as independent churches. The group is also working with organisations such as the Citizens Advice Bureau, Age UK, Aquarius, the National Youth Theatre and the Brierley Hill Civic Society.