BUSINESS leaders in Halesowen have hailed plans for a £20million new college development as a huge boost for trade in the town.

Dudley Council is working on a bid to government through the levelling up fund which could see a new college campus built in the town.

It includes demolishing the outdated Pool Road multi-storey car park and building a new state-of-the-art college campus, a brand new accessible entrance to Cornbow Hall and replacement parking nearby in the town centre.

That is expected to bring hundreds of students into the town centre which will boost the area’s growth according to Halesowen Business Improvement District (BID).

Vicky Rogers, Halesowen BID manager, said: "This is such an exciting project and we are working closely with the council to ensure it is right for the businesses, residents and shoppers in Halesowen.

"Bringing new people into the town and making it easier for people to get to Halesowen via alternative forms of travel will be good for the businesses but also help us to grow further.

"It is essential we get the details on car parking right too, but the future looks very bright for Halesowen."

The council has been working with key partners in the scheme including Halesowen College, MP James Morris and the BID.

The Halesowen plan includes the college scheme and landscaping as well as 75 new car parking spaces in Andrew Road.

There will also be investments in ‘active travel’ to encourage people to find alternative ways of getting Halesowen by improving cycle lanes on Queensway and other links to the town centre. There are also plans for more car parking outside Halesowen leisure centre.

Councillor Simon Phipps, cabinet member for regeneration and enterprise, said: "Halesowen continues to flourish because the passion and hard work of people who live and work there.

"This project builds on that growth and will bring new people into the town.

"It will ease any pressure on the existing campus, provide first class facilities for students, boost trade in the town and much more."

The bid will be submitted in July with successful projects announced in the autumn.

In Lye there are plans for changes to the road network including making the bypass two-way to traffic.