Developer wrangle behind Cavendish House demolition delay
The demolition of an eyesore office block was delayed for year because of a wrangle between the developer and funding authority, it has been confirmed.
Approval was given for Cavendish House in Dudley to be bulldozed in February last year but the building is still standing.
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street has now stepped in to provide £700,000 to break the deadlock and ensure the former Inland Revenue offices which overlooks Duncan Edwards Way will be razed to the ground, with demolition is expected to begin within weeks.
But it has now been revealed progress stalled getting the building knocked down because developer Avenbury could not reach an agreement with the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership, which had offered to provide funding for the scheme.
Dudley Council confirmed following a Freedom of Information request that the reason for the delay was "because the agreement between the developer and the funding authority has not been signed".
The failure to get rid of the derelict office block by successive council administrations has caused frustration for politicians and residents.
Thousands of drivers pass the run-down building along the Duncan Edwards bypass every day, with its smashed windows clearly visible.
The demolition of the offices will pave the way for the £82 million Portersfield retail, leisure and retail and residential development.
