£1m Dudley tip and depot transformation in the pipeline
A near £1 million transformation of a crumbling council depot bringing hundreds of staff under one roof has moved a step closer.
The revamp of the Lister Road site in Dudley forms part of a proposed shake-up that will see the main Stourbridge tip shut and the Leys Depot in Brierley Hill become the main waste centre.
Council bosses want to redevelop the Lister Road depot – home to its waste services staff, gritting trucks, and pot-hole repair teams, bringing it ‘back up to date’.
Under a planning application now lodged, it wants to improve site security and safety while also creating a new five-storey office block.
Councillor Patrick Harley, leader of Dudley Council, said: “The offices in Lister Road are really dilapidated and do need repairing.
"This is something that is much needed and will bring the site back up to date. We need to get everyone more centralised so that they can be working all together.”
The plans state: “The Lister Road Depot has significant underlying investment need, which is estimated to be in excess of £900,000.
"Similar to the Leys Depot, the site has serious structural defects, extensive asbestos issues and dilapidated ‘temporary’ buildings.”
The plan involves demolition of the existing buildings to be replaced with a gritter storage canopy, ancillary building, paint booth, office building and car park.
A phased construction of the site would take place, meaning the existing facility would continue to operate with no interruption.
Staff moving to the new-look Lister Road site would include hundreds of office workers from the Leys Road depot where the housing department and asbestos teams are based. Those from the current Lister Road offices will also transfer to the new building.
Council bosses want to sell off the Birmingham Street tip in Stourbridge and make the Leys Depot the central base for waste disposal.
Neighbouring land on Birmingham Street has already been developed for a Premier Inn hotel with fast food chains also moving in nearby.
Bosses say the Leys Road depot in Brierley Hill will be able to take more vehicles and is better equipped to handle recycling. The plans are currently out to consultation.
