'Super station' scheme to start this year, police chiefs vow
Work on a multi-million pound West Midlands Police “super-station” in the Black Country could start later this year, police chiefs have revealed.
The force is planning to build a station on derelict land in Hall Street, Dudley, with the new site featuring a front desk and serving as a Black Country police HQ.
The scheme has been delayed by red tape for nearly two years but officials are now hopeful that construction work will start before the end of the year.
West Midlands Police Chief Constable Sir David Thompson said designs for the building had already been drawn up, and that the force had written to Dudley Council to clear up issues surrounding the land.
He said the force wanted to get started on the new station "as fast as we can" and vowed: "There will be no delay from our side."
He said there were "big issues" that needed to be resolved, involving legal matters and the condition of an adjoining property.
Sir David told a meeting of the police and crime commissioner's strategic board: "We are very, very keen to build a new police station in Dudley.
"We are very attracted to the site that we would like to acquire. It's the right location for us. We made a bid which was accepted for the site in 2019, subject to successful planning applications and ground and environmental reports.
"There is some good progress and dialogue with the local politicians but we're not in a position to conclude these arrangements.
Sir David said talks with Dudley Council were at "stage two" with "quite a lot of work in place around the design".
"There is more work to be done with the council, more work to do on resolving some of the legal issues, and there are very specific issues we have got to resolve around an adjoining property before we can purchase this," he added.
"As with many homebuyers, it is our location of choice. We are very excited about what we want to build there.
"Our intention is certainly to build a new station there."
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson, said: "The Chief Constable, like me, is clear that Hall Street is where we want to build Dudley’s new police station and we are committed to doing so.
"If the council acts quickly to clear up the issues on their side, then I am very hopeful that spades can be in the ground to get work moving on a new police station for the people of Dudley this year."
Dudley North MP Marco Longhi said he wanted to see "shovels in the ground" as soon as possible on the scheme.
He insisted the outstanding issues – which include determining the ownership of a retaining wall on the site – could “easily be overcome” in a short period of time.
