Plans to regenerate Lye are making progress, with initial works to start next year, I have been told during a catch up with officials in charge of the project.
The area around Lye War Memorial will be the first part of the regeneration and plans to secure public funding of initially up to 20 million are earmarked to commence by 2025. However, that figure will be much more when private investment is included.
I heard the update when I met the Director of Regeneration and Enterprise at Dudley Council Helen Martin and Head of Regeneration Projects at New Heritage Regeneration Limited Mark Clarke on Friday.
The project plan is going through internal comments and consultation now and it has been signed off by the council’s leader and deputy leader.
Mark has written to Laura Shoaf, the Chief Executive of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), to say the Lye plan is moving forward and the council is ready to engage with the WMCA.
Funds from the WMCA can help move the regeneration forward and revenue has been sought from Homes England for the regeneration.
I was really pleased and reassured the council and its partners are moving at pace to get spades in the ground next year with the major work – worth many tens of millions - earmarked for 2025.
“This is great news for Lye and the wider Stourbridge area and I am delighted to see it following my campaign to secure this money in partnership with the council and the WMCA.
Residents really want to see where they live improved and for there to be more housing, better transport by making the bypass two way and encouraging businesses with a new square and new vitality to the High Street.
Just how keen was amply shown last week when I popped into the Redeeming Our Communities (ROC) community engagement event at Christ Church in Lye.
There is still work to do as the design code and local plan work needs to be completed but we are making good progress.
The ROC meeting was led by Debra Green, its Executive Director.
Local councillor Dave Borley and Simon Falshaw, the priest in charge of the church, were also there with me.
There were a variety of other local groups and representatives such as Friends of Wollescote Park, the Bishop of Dudley, We Love Carers, The Dudley Borough Commander as well as representatives from Dudley Council and residents.
Tables were laid out so small groups of people could work together to discuss what changes they wanted to see in Lye.
ROC gave each group worksheets to complete which created conversations about what works well in Lye and what could be better in the community.
