PLANS for Dudley town’s new Metro and bus station interchange have moved a step forward with the approval of a £10million grant.

The West Midlands Combined Authority approved the grant, which will support the development of an £18million transport interchange for buses and the proposed Metro line.

The grant will fund a significant part of the redevelopment to the town’s bus station and will help people who travel by bus to access the rail network.

Councillor Keiran Casey, Dudley's cabinet member for regeneration and enterprise, said: "There are lots of great projects taking place in Dudley at the moment which will make a massive difference to the town centre and good connectivity, and sustainable transport is a key component of these.

"That's why we have been pushing the West Midlands Combined Authority to get these plans drawn up for a new bus and Metro interchange right in the town centre.

"The funding moves these plans one step closer and we will continue to work closely with them to make these, and other projects in the pipeline, a reality as quickly as possible.”

Preparatory works have also begun to bring the ambitious project to extend the West Midlands Metro from Wednesbury to Brierley Hill via Dudley closer to fruition.

Work in Dudley Town Centre will be taking place in Flood Street, King Street, Birmingham Street and Castle Street to help confirm the locations of existing services.

The work will involve several small excavations and lane restrictions may be in place for safety reasons while it is underway.

Cllr Casey added: “The start of these works along the route is excellent news for the project and shows the progress the scheme is making. People can now see that this much-anticipated extension is moving closer to delivery.

"This project will provide a significant boost to our local economy, as well as providing benefits to residents across the region by making it easier for them to get to jobs, and the national and international rail network with travel times estimated at being approximately 40 minutes from Dudley town centre to Birmingham City Centre.”

The Metro extension is expected to be up and running in 2023.