Work on Stourbridge glass museum could start in summer
Work to create a world-renowned museum showcasing Stourbridge's glass heritage could start this summer once a £2 million funding bid is secured, project bosses revealed today.
Contractors would begin work to transform the former Stuart Crystal glassworks, in Wordsley, within weeks of a successful European funding deal.
Site owners Complex Development Projects has lodged its own application to source cash from the European Regional Development Fund.
It has secured the support of Dudley Council to bid for £2,075,000 from Europe to begin work on the multi-million attraction.
Documentation from the two parties has now been lodged with European officials to be discussed within the next few weeks.
Campaigners hope the attraction would emulate the Corning Museum of Glass in the US.
Complex Development Projects director Ian Harrabin today declared the step "fantastic" news for the future of the project.
"It is good that we are now moving forward and it is fantastic news that the application will now be looked at," he said.
He added a separate application to the Heritage Lottery Fund will also be made by around June.
Council leader, Councillor David Sparks, said: "This is a complex deal involving a bid by a private developer for European funding which requires the support of the local authority. The letter of support has been sent for the application to proceed."
The application will bid for a share of remaining money which had not been spent following the last round of European funding.
Leading charity the British Glass Foundation is also looking at raising donations and applying for grants to help foot the bill.
Estimates for the cost of creating the museum, off Camp Hill opposite the Red House Glass Cone, stand at around £5m.
