'Last chance' to save former Dudley Hippodrome, says council

The Dudley Hippodrome has stood empty since 2009

A council has given groups hoping to rescue a West Midlands theatre "a final chance" to submit viable plans.

The Dudley Hippodrome has been empty since 2009.

Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council, which owns the site, planned to demolish the building in 2013 but put its plans on hold following a 35,000-strong petition to save it.

The council said interested parties will have until 30 September to enter "expressions of interest" in the site.

'Long-running issue'

It added any groups interested in buying and running the site must have, "a thorough, realistic and deliverable business plan".

Offers would be examined in detail by a panel including an independent assessor, it said.

A final decision on the future of the building will be made by the end of the year.

Khurshid Ahmed, cabinet member for planning and economic development, said: "This has been a long-running issue and we have fully explored every suggested alternative use submitted so far, but we need to draw a line under this.

"This really is the final opportunity to decide the future of this building, but it must be viable and deliverable, addressing all the well-known issues of parking and costs in bringing this building back to life.

"As a community council we are listening to local people with an open mind, but have to balance this with the needs of all taxpayers across the borough and bring this issue to a close very soon, to avoid further costs."

Built in 1938, the site was a theatre until 1964 when it became a bingo hall. But it has stood empty since that closed.

The council wanted to demolish the theatre as part of a £10m revamp of the area.