REGENERATION
PROJECTS.

The multi-million-pound regeneration of Brierley Hill town centre is now underway, with work set to improve transport links and create an attractive look and feel of the town.

 

The £5million scheme includes the refurbishment of the High Street, Brierley Hill Library and upgraded public toilets, as well as new cycle facilities. New seating, plants and trees will be installed, creating a fantastic new High Street for all to enjoy. The works are being funded through the Future High Street Fund and Brierley Hill High Street Heritage Action Zone.

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Local residents and businesses were asked for feedback on these planned works as part of a formal public consultation and where possible and appropriate the designs have been updated to reflect the feedback received.

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The works programme

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The works began in January with the removal of the existing kerbs and paving, in preparation for new street paving. This started on the Market Hall and Farmfoods side of High Street. It is expected that the new paving works on this side of High Street will be completed by June 2023. 

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The contractor will then move to the opposite side - Moor Street side - of the High Street, we hope in late June 2023. Here clearance and excavation works will start to allow for new paving works to the footway, parking bays and the planting of new trees. It is expected that this phase will be completed by November 2023. 

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While the works above are taking place, as well as after November 2023, additional improvement works will also be carried out at the Civic Hall Green, Cottage Street and the High Street / Venture Way junction. 

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The target is to have all improvement works fully completed by Spring 2024. These dates are for guidance only as works can sometimes be delayed due to unknown or unforeseen circumstances.

Please see the PDF map here for details of the diversion route and the extent and location of the works, including road diversions and bus stop locations.

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Support your High Street - it is still easy to park and access the town centre

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Dudley Council is committed to minimising disruption during these improvements and is asking people to continue to support the town and local businesses while the work is taking place.

 

Shops and eateries are still all open for business, easy to get to on foot, or by car, or bus and public transport and parking is only minimally affected. 

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Parking

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There is still plenty of local, central parking, free for up to two hours at council car parks located at: 

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• Bank Street

• Level Street

• Little Cottage Street

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The on street bays remain fully operational on the unaffected side of the High Street (opposite side to the Market Hall - where work isn’t taking place until later in the year) and there are also some on street bays operating on the affected side, so it’s still easy to drop off and pick up on the High Street or park for up to one hour. 

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There are also several privately operated car parks in the town, all centrally located. 

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Buses

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Bus stops remain operating on the unaffected side of the High Street for services heading to Dudley. Bus stops on the Market Hall side have been temporarily relocated.

 

These new temporary stops are now located on Level St (near to the Asda) and Venture Way (outside Inspired, Dudley College) - for bus services - 3, 15, 15A, X10 to Merry Hill and service 6 to Stourbridge.

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Consultation

In Autumn 2022 we asked residents to share their thoughts on our proposals for Brierley Hill High Street.

 

Your feedback been very valuable in helping shape the proposals.

 

The results were as follows:

 

• Over 77% of people either strongly supported or supported the proposals to redesign the Civic Hall Green in order that it becomes a public open space with seating and a link path to the Civic Hall

• Over 70% of people either strongly supported or supported the examples of street furniture and other materials being proposed to enhance the public realm

• Over 77% of people either strongly supported or supported the prioritising of pedestrian movement across the high street by introducing raised crossings and traffic calming measures and by reducing the High Street to a 20mph zone to improve pedestrian safety

• Over 79% of people either strongly supported or supported the proposals to introduce more street trees and verge planting into the High Street

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Based on these responses and the additional comments received, we have been able to achieve the following:

 

• New natural kerbs and paving slabs have been laid

• New bus shelters have been installed

• New street trees and street furniture (seats, bins, planters, cycle stands) are to be installed soon

 

We are also extending the scheme into Mill Street and Pearson Street.

 

We also sought your views on Cottage Street/Five Ways junction. We put forward two options to be considered for the Cottage Street/Five Ways junction which were:

• Option 1 was to pedestrianize Cottage Street  

• Option 2 was to leave it as it is allowing it to continue to be accessed by vehicular traffic

 

Whilst 49.47% of the respondents expressed their support for Option 1 (pedestrianize) there was 38.95% of respondents who indicated that they would prefer to leave it as is with 11.58% expressing no preference.

 

Since undertaking the original consultation, more representation has been received from the public indicating that whilst there is support to provide more pedestrian priority in this area, the support is waning for the permanent closure of Cottage Street to Traffic at this time. The council has therefore decided not to pursue Option 1 (pedestrianize) under this current scheme but to instead keep Cottage Street open to vehicular traffic and revisit pedestrianisation at a later date when more information is known about the proposed Metro Terminus and the public have had chance to experience the improvements we are making in this area.

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Brierley Hill Town Centre Public Realm - Illustrative Masterplan