CAMPAIGNERS are a step closer to seeing their dreams of transforming Dudley's dilapidated Hippodrome into a thriving theatre become a reality after council bosses agreed to lease the building to them for five years.

Dudley Council will hand the keys to the former bingo hall on Castle Hill to Black Country Hippodrome Ltd, the group which has been battling to re-open it.

They will take over the running of the building but work with the council to ensure progress continues on finding a suitable funding package.

The council had wanted to demolish the building to make way for an open air public space to host exhibitions and other events.

While those plans will continue in the background as a “fallback position” the authority has made a firm commitment to work with the group as they explore the potential to re-open the building as a priority.

Leader of the council, Councillor Pete Lowe, said: "We have always maintained that we would look seriously at viable propositions for the building and it is clear that the current group has made significant strides forward in developing a plan for the site.

"However, having come this far, we recognise that the group needs a stake in the building in order to be able to have meaningful discussions with potential funding partners and we are now exploring how to reach a position which gives the group this stake, without committing either party fully until we have more certainty.

“Our work to seek planning permission to demolish the building is merely a fallback position if our work with the group fails to re-open the building for whatever reason, but rest assured they have our full support in their bid.”

Steve Daniels, Black Country Hippodrome Ltd board member, said: “Having now grounded the plan from a commercial basis, we need some certainty as to the council’s commitment in order to move forward discussions with potential funders and we are very pleased with the progress we are making.

"I think it is important that everyone is clear about the scale of the challenge in bringing life back to a building of this scale, but we are approaching this with a positive attitude and are confident that we have the skills on board within our group to do this.

“Given the history to this building we understand that it has already been agreed that the council will continue to seek planning consent for an alternative development on the site, should our joint efforts fail to bear fruit, and are happy that in doing this the council is acting in good faith.”

Councillor Paul Brothwood, leader of Dudley's UKIP group, welcomed the news.

He said: “I am fully supportive of giving the steering group some more time to develop their plan.

"I am also mindful of the amount of time that has gone in to trying to find a future for the building and am keen that we should work to an agreed timescale in drawing this to a conclusion and whatever scheme we develop is not reliant upon funding from the taxpayers of Dudley.”

Cllr Brothwood was also pleased to see "a purple policy taking shape in Dudley borough", adding: "We promised to help make this a reality and it seems to be taking shape at no cost to the tax payer.

"I believe that this isn't just about a new theatre but, a state of the art facility that can provide for multiple uses which is also disabled friendly. This could be a great catalyst for our boroughs regeneration."