£5m Castlegate work gets underway in Dudley

Castlegate Drive at the Castlegate Business Park was given planning permission back in November and work started yesterday.

It will include a Greene King pub, a KFC drive through restaurant and a Costa Coffee drive through.

The brands will open near to the existing restaurants including Frankie and Benny's and Pizza Hut, as well as the Showcase Cinema.

The new development, which is being funded by Legal & General, should be completed by September.

Property developer Stoford is carrying out the work.

Councillor Khurshid Ahmed, cabinet member for regeneration said: "Dudley Council is committed to investing in our town centres and welcomes private developers who are inspired by Dudley's continuing regeneration to bring new builds, new business and new jobs to the borough.

"Following the recent completion of the £6.7m regeneration of Dudley town centre, this development is a further demonstration of ongoing developer and investor confidence in the town.

"As a council, we are open for business and continue to welcome more tourists to Dudley's historic town centre and Castle Hill attractions.

"Stoford's development at Castlegate links with our tourism corridor, and will not only bring jobs to the area but will further add to the visitor offer to people spending time at one of the town's popular tourist attractions."

Dominic Stokes, director at Stoford, said: "Dudley is in the midst of a period of major regeneration.

"The new scheme will support the continued development of the town, benefiting visitors, residents and those that work in the area.

"The next few years will see a considerable amount of investment in the town and the final plot on Castle Drive will prove a fantastic opportunity for a new restaurant looking to take advantage of this."

Stoford has been involved in two other developments in Castlegate including the 63-bed Premier Inn and a two-storey office scheme at Castlegate Business Park for the Staffordshire and West Midlands Probation Trust.