WORK to transform the Waterfront's Cable Plaza building into a state-of-the-art music institute is on track for its 2020 opening, directors have revealed.

Contractors Overbury will hand the keys to the former office block back to the directors of Resonance by the end of the year, with the institute set to open for students in September 2020.

David Barnard, co-director of Resonance, said: “It’s great to see the building changing from what was an old office block into something truly remarkable.

"Every time I walk into Cable Plaza I see something new the contractors have completed or are working on, which is incredibly exciting.

“We are really seeing the concept created all of all those years ago now becoming reality.”

The £9.5 million project will see the vacant office block transformed into a mixture of classrooms, lecture theatres, recording studios, practice rooms and radio studios for students seeking a career in the music industry.

Dudley South MP Mike Wood, who recently paid a visit to Resonance, said: "Not only will this fantastic new music institute provide incredible opportunities for young people to break into the ever-competitive music industry, but having such a world-class higher education institute here in the heart of the Black Country has the potential to transform people’s aspirations and the regeneration of Brierley Hill.

"This institute will offer a whole new perspective on studying music for its pupils, who will be able to benefit from state-of-the-art facilities at the Waterfront that will be the envy of many professional studios around the world.

“Directors David Barnard, Rick Benton and Chris Cronin are delivering an inspiring vision and I’d like to thank them for showing me their work at what will become one of the best music institutes in the world.”

The building is set for completion at the end of this year and will be welcoming students for open days and auditions in 2020, with classes set to start that September.