A NEW £18 million bus and tram interchange is one step closer to coming to Dudley after outline blueprints for the ambitious scheme were approved by councillors.

Dudley Council’s development control committee unanimously approved granting outline planning permission to demolish the existing town centre bus station and replace it with a new two-storey, glass-fronted, state-of-the-art facility at their meeting last night (March 5).

The decision means the council has granted permission in principle for such a development to take place on the land.

The application, which was submitted by Transport for West Midlands, will also the see demolition of the partly vacant Co-Operative and Farm Foods store and a former photography studio and warehouse unit in Birmingham Street.

The new interchange will also link up with the multi-million Metro Wednesbury to Brierley Hill line extension, which will run through the town centre.

Councillor Khurshid Ahmed, cabinet member for regeneration, planning and economic investment, said: "I am delighted that this much-needed development is now a step closer to becoming reality.

"The bus station is the second busiest in the West Midlands by passenger numbers.

"This development would represent another major step forward in terms of improving in local transport and connectivity for Dudley, and for the general regeneration in the town centre.”

An application for full planning permission must now be submitted, and approved, before work on the development can start.