Cavendish House demolition expected to start by March
Work to demolish an eyesore office block is expected to start in March after council bosses said they wanted the scheme to start as soon as possible.
Plans to bulldoze Cavendish House in Dudley have been in the pipeline for years and could now finally come to fruition within weeks. The derelict site is set to transformed into a huge retail development.
Council regeneration boss Khurshid Ahmed said he had held 'frank' discussions with the building's owners Avenbury in which he made clear the authority did not want any delays on work starting.
Shops, apartments, bars and restaurants will all form part of the £82 million Portersfield development.
Councillor Ahmed said: "We had a meeting with Avenbury and clear guidance was given, this is what the expectation is and a checklist of what needs to be done.
"I'm hoping this will be the final jigsaw piece and I hope all goes according to plan."
He added: "Very clear guidelines have been given. We have set down clear guidelines that work needs to commence in March.
"The important thing is to make sure we are all clear. What are the things that need to be done and when are they going to be done by. There is an importance on getting this work started quickly."
The scheme received a major boost last month when funding for demolition was approved by the business body the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership.
Initial preparation works for the site are expected to begin in March, with the full demolition of the building to follow.
Councillor Ahmed said: "We can't just push the button and bring it down. Work should commence on the ground in mid-March."
Cavendish House, which overlooks the Duncan Edwards bypass on one of the main routes into Dudley, has been left abandoned for years, leading for calls for it to be demolished.
