Chiefs welcome confirmation Government will fund £13m for Very Light Rail project
Council chiefs have welcomed written confirmation that the Government is to contribute more than £12 million to get the Very Light Rail project back on track.
Dudley Council leader Patrick Harley had urged ministers to step in to meet the funding shortfall and support the next phase of the project before it derailed.
He wrote to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Robert Jenrick MP, to say the whole scheme, which includes plans for a test track and National Innovation Centre (NIC) at Castle Hill, was “under threat” unless the cash could be found.
Last month, Mr Jenrick MP said the project would be included in the region’s Getting Building Fund and Councillor Harley has now received a letter confirming the news.
In the letter from Simon Clarke MP, the minister for regional growth and local government, it was said “it is excellent news we can support such an exciting and innovative project through the fund”.
The Government will be contributing £12.35m towards the shortfall, with the balance of funding required coming from the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership.
Councillor Harley said: “It is fantastic to get this news confirmed in writing this week.
“The Very Light Rail Test Track and National Innovation Centre (NIC) is a key project for our borough.
“It will offer an innovative and exciting opportunity to provide lower cost local rail connectivity, encouraging a shift from private vehicles towards public transport.
“The world’s eyes will be on Dudley as we develop very light rail, a project which will revolutionise light rail technology globally.
"With the money confirmed, I am looking forward to this project moving quickly through to delivery.”
The innovation centre which will be built at Castle Hill, and will design and build lightweight rail vehicles. Research and development laboratories will also be built alongside facilities for general manufacturing, conferences, teaching and training and further infrastructure.
Test tracks for the lightweight trains will run for 2km from Castle Hill to Cinder Bank.
A new footbridge will be built over Tipton Road to connect the light rail centre to the new metro line when it is extended to Dudley.
