Today The Rt Hon Michael Gove Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities visited Dudley College of Technology’s Inspired Brierley Hill campus to announce the funding of £20million for the Brierley Hill development zone as part of the government’s levelling up agenda.

The funding will include £14million for the creation of a new Transport Technologies Centre to upskill local people in electric vehicles and modern transport systems. The new development will see Dudley College of Technologies’ Motor Vehicle Centre relocate to the site from it’s current Wolverhampton base.  The current facility of 1500m2 will be replaced by a 2900m2 modern facility with workshops not only servicing traditional motor and transport, but also modern electrical, and alternative fuel systems, together with engineering and automation laboratories servicing driverless technologies.

The proposed facility will serve 500 students when it opens, to train both young people progressing from school into the sector and adults looking to retrain as modern transport technologies.

The relocation of the education facility will help link the high street to Merry Hill and boost footfall into the town as it will be sited directly opposite the West Midlands Metro Brierley Hill terminus.

The ambitious new plans will begin work in Spring 2025 and will be expected to be completed by Summer 2026. 

The project is just one of 55 projects to be supported from the new £1billion levelling up fund that is designed to provide support for high streets and transform communities across the UK.