View source for Metropolitan Borough of Dudley

{{About||the individual settlement|Dudley|the local authority|Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2015}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Borough of Dudley
<!-- Elements common to administrative division of this type (English metropolitan district) -->| settlement_type    = [[Metropolitan borough]]
| image_skyline      = Dudley Town Centre.jpg
| image_alt          =
| image_caption      = Dudley, the administrative centre of the borough
| image_shield       =
| shield_alt         =
| shield_link        =
| image_blank_emblem =
| blank_emblem_type  = Logo of the Borough Council
| motto = {{force singular}} Unity and Progress
| image_map          = DudleyMBC UK locator map.png
| map_alt            =
| map_caption        = Dudley Metropolitan Borough shown within West Midlands
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Sovereign state]]
| subdivision_name   = United Kingdom
| subdivision_type1  = [[Countries of the United Kingdom|Constituent country]]
| subdivision_name1  = England
| subdivision_type2  = [[Regions of England|Region]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[West Midlands (region)|West Midlands]]
| subdivision_type3  = [[Metropolitan county]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]]
| subdivision_type4  = [[Historic counties of England|Historic county]]
| subdivision_name4  = [[Worcestershire]] and [[Staffordshire]]
| subdivision_type5  = Status
| subdivision_name5  = [[Metropolitan borough]]
| subdivision_type6  = Admin HQ
| subdivision_name6  = [[Dudley]]
| established_title1 = Incorporated
| established_date1  = 1 April 1974
| government_type    = Metropolitan borough council
| governing_body     = [[Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council]]
| leader_party       = Conservative
| leader_title       = Leadership
| leader_name        = Leader and cabinet
| leader_title1      = [[Mayors in England|Mayor]]
| leader_name1       = Hilary Bills
| leader_title2      = [[List of MPs elected in the 2010 United Kingdom general election|MPs]]
| leader_name2       = [[Sonia Kumar]] ([[Labour Party (UK)|(Labour)]])<br />[[Cat Eccles]] [[Labour Party (UK)|(Labour)]]<br />[[Alex Ballinger]] [[Labour Party (UK)|(Labour)]]<br />[[Mike Wood (Conservative politician)|Mike Wood]] ([[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]])<br />[[Antonia Bance]] [[Labour Party (UK)|(Labour)]]
| unit_pref          = UK
| area_total_km2     = 97.96
| area_rank          = {{English district area rank|GSS=E08000027}} [[List of English districts by area|(of {{English district total}})]]
| population_total   = {{English district population|GSS=E08000027}}
| population_rank    = [[List of English districts by population|Ranked {{English district rank|GSS=E08000027}}]]
| population_as_of   = {{English statistics year}}
| population_density_km2 = auto|<!-- demographics (section 1) -->
| demographics_type1 = Ethnicity <span style="font-weight:normal;">([[2021 United Kingdom census|2021]])</span>
| demographics1_footnotes = <ref name="2021 Nomis">{{NOMIS2021|id=E08000027|title=Dudley Local Authority|access-date=5 January 2024}}</ref>
| demographics1_title1 = [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|Ethnic groups]]
| demographics1_info1 = {{Collapsible list
 | 84.9% [[White people in the United Kingdom|White]]
 | 8.4% [[British Asians|Asian]]
 | 2.8% [[Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)|Mixed]]
 | 2.5% [[Black British people|Black]]
 | 1.4% [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|other]]
 }}
<!-- demographics (section 2) -->| demographics_type2 = Religion <span style="font-weight:normal;">(2021)</span>
| demographics2_footnotes = <ref name="2021 Nomis"/>
| demographics2_title1 = [[Religion in England|Religion]]
| demographics2_info1 = {{Collapsible list
 | 49.3% [[Religion in England#Christianity|Christianity]]
 | 36% [[Irreligion in the United Kingdom|no religion]]
 | 6.2% [[Islam in England|Islam]]
 | 5.5% not stated
 | 1.6% [[Sikhism in England|Sikhism]]
 | 0.7% [[Hinduism in England|Hinduism]]
 | 0.5% [[Religion in England|other]]
 | 0.2% [[Buddhism in England|Buddhism]]
 | 0.1% [[History of the Jews in England|Judaism]]
 }}
<!-- See {{Infobox settlement}} for the full list of available fields -->
<!-- Elements common to United Kingdom -->| timezone           = [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]]
| utc_offset         = 0
| timezone_DST       = [[British Summer Time|BST]]
| utc_offset_DST     = +1
| postal_code_type   = [[List of postcode areas in the United Kingdom|Postcode areas]]
| postal_code        = [[DY postcode area|DY]] <small>(1 - 6, 8, 9)</small><br />[[B postcode area|B]] <small>(62, 63)</small><br />[[WV postcode area|WV]] <small>(14)</small>
| area_code_type     = [[List of dialling codes in the United Kingdom|Dialling codes]]
| area_code          = 01384 <small>([[Dudley]])</small><br />0121 <small>([[Birmingham]])</small><br />01902 <small>([[Wolverhampton]])</small><br />01562 <small>([[Kidderminster]])</small>
| iso_code           = GB-DUD
| blank1_name        = [[ONS coding system|ONS code]]
| blank1_info        = 00CR (ONS)<br />E08000027 (GSS)
| blank2_name        = [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|OS grid reference]]
| blank2_info        = {{gbmappingsmall|SO9350590490}}
| blank3_name        = [[Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics|NUTS]] 3
| blank3_info        = UKG36
| website            = {{URL|www.dudley.gov.uk/}}
}}

The '''Metropolitan Borough of Dudley''' is a [[metropolitan borough]] of [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]], England. It was created in 1974 following the [[Local Government Act 1972]], through a merger of the existing [[County Borough of Dudley|Dudley County Borough]] with the [[municipal borough]]s of [[Stourbridge]] and [[Halesowen]].

The borough's main settlement is [[Dudley]] but it also includes the outlying towns of [[Brierley Hill]], [[Halesowen]], [[Kingswinford]], [[Lye, West Midlands|Lye]], [[Netherton, West Midlands|Netherton]], [[Sedgley]], and [[Stourbridge]].

The borough borders [[Sandwell]] to the east, the city of [[Birmingham]] to the south east, [[Bromsgrove (district)|Bromsgrove]] to the south in [[Worcestershire]], [[South Staffordshire|South Staffordshire District]] to the west, and the city of [[Wolverhampton]] to the north.

==History==
{{See also|Evolution of Worcestershire county boundaries}}

The Metropolitan Borough of Dudley was created in 1974 from the existing boroughs of [[County Borough of Dudley|Dudley]], the Municipal Borough of Stourbridge and the Municipal Borough of Halesowen. This followed an earlier reorganisation in 1966, as per the provisions of the [[Local Government Act 1958]], which saw an expansion of the three boroughs from the abolition of the surrounding [[Urban district (Great Britain and Ireland)|urban districts]] of [[Amblecote Urban District|Amblecote]], [[Brierley Hill Urban District|Brierley Hill]], [[Coseley Urban District|Coseley]], and [[Sedgley Urban District|Sedgley]]; and the [[municipal borough]]s of [[Tipton]], [[Oldbury, West Midlands|Oldbury]], and [[Municipal Borough of Rowley Regis|Rowley Regis]].<ref name="VOB Dudley">{{cite web|title=Dudley CB/MB through time|url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit_page.jsp?u_id=10026568|publisher=Vision of Britain|access-date=22 July 2012}}</ref><ref name="VOB Sbridge">{{cite web|title=Stourbridge UD/MB through time|url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit_page.jsp?u_id=10002539|publisher=Vision of Britain|access-date=22 July 2012}}</ref><ref name="VOB Halesowen">{{cite web|title=Halesowen UD/MB through time|url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit_page.jsp?u_id=10026581|publisher=Vision of Britain|access-date=22 July 2012}}</ref>

Initially the borough had a two-tier system of local government, with the borough council sharing power with the [[West Midlands County Council]]. In 1986 [[metropolitan county]] [[county council|council]]s were abolished under the [[Local Government Act 1985]], and Dudley effectively became a [[unitary authority]].

[[File:The local government structure within the Black Country (Pre-1966).png|thumb|The local government structure within North Worcestershire and South Staffordshire – Prior to the ''West Midlands Order 1965'' reorganisation|none]]

==Government==
{{for|historical political control and leadership|Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council elections}}

[[Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council|Dudley Council]] has its main offices in [[Dudley]] town centre (where [[Dudley Council House]] is located), along with additional smaller offices throughout the borough. The council is made up of 72 councillors representing 24 [[Ward (politics)|wards]].

On its formation in 1974, the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley was controlled by the Labour Party. Since then the controlling party has frequently changed, sometimes with no political party having a clear majority.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-04-30 |title=Local elections 2019: What happens when councils change hands? |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-birmingham-48092241 |access-date=2021-11-24}}</ref>

Following the local elections in May 2024 the council returned to no overall control.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Dudley election result |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2024/england/councils/E08000027}}</ref>

===Mayor===
The Mayor of the Borough acts as the Borough's first citizen attending many civic and ceremonial functions to represent the Council. They are elected at the Annual Meeting of the Council and serves for the whole of the Municipal Year until the next Annual Meeting.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mayor of Dudley |url=https://www.dudley.gov.uk/council-community/councillors/mayor-of-dudley/ |access-date=2023-07-04 |website=www.dudley.gov.uk |language=en}}</ref>

As part of the [[West Midlands Combined Authority]], Dudley is also served by the [[Mayor of the West Midlands]].

===Wards===
The 24 wards of the Dudley Borough are each represented by 3 councillors.<ref>{{cite web|title=Borough Wards|url=http://councillors.dudley.gov.uk/home/borough-wards/|publisher=Dudley Councillors Online|access-date=11 February 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204234256/http://councillors.dudley.gov.uk/home/borough-wards/|archive-date=4 February 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="border:0px;text-align:left;line-height:150%;"
! Ward name
! Population (2021 census)
! Change since 2011 census
! [[Population density]] <br />(residents per square km)
|-
| [[Amblecote]]
|12,927
|Decrease  (-466)
|4,320.8
|-
| [[Belle Vale (Dudley ward)|Belle Vale]]
|14,291
|Increase  (+807)
|4,369.8
|-
| [[Brierley Hill]]
|15,016
|Increase  (+1,081)
|3,463.6
|-
| [[Pensnett|Brockmoor and Pensnett]]
|14,726
|Increase  (+1,803)
|2,798.5
|-
| [[Priory Estate|Castle and Priory]]
|17,029
|Increase  (+3,290)
|3,776.4
|-
| [[Coseley|Coseley East]]
|13,409
|Increase  (+1,052)
|4,165.6
|-
| [[Cradley, West Midlands|Cradley and Wollescote]]
|13,730
|Increase  (+290)
|3,287.0
|-
| [[Gornal, West Midlands|Gornal]]
|13,354
|Increase  (+362)
|2,854.4
|-
| [[Halesowen North]]
|13,359
|Increase  (+1,186)
|3,287.1
|-
| [[Halesowen South]]
|12,245
|Increase  (+86)
|1,747.9
|-
| [[Hayley Green, West Midlands|Hayley Green and Cradley South]]
|11,980
|Increase  (+118)
|2,638.0
|-
| [[Kingswinford North and Wall Heath]]
|11,853
|Decrease  (-708)
|2,816.7
|-
| [[Kingswinford South]]
|12,647
|Increase  (+17)
|3,787.0
|-
| [[Lye, West Midlands|Lye and Stourbridge North]]
|12,467
|Increase  (+118)
|3,629.0
|-
| [[Netherton, Woodside and St. Andrews]]
|14,909
|Decrease  (-108)
|2,819.8
|-
| [[Norton, Dudley|Norton]]
|11,856
|Increase  (+15)
|2,082.3
|-
| [[Pedmore|Pedmore and Stourbridge East]]
|12,284
|Decrease  (-187)
|2,656.9
|-
| [[Quarry Bank|Quarry Bank and Dudley Wood]]
|13,667
|Increase  (+226)
|3,830.9
|-
| [[St. James's (Dudley ward)|St. James's]]
|14,242
|Increase  (+29)
|4,115.9
|-
| [[St. Thomas's (Dudley ward)|St. Thomas's]]
|16,285
|Increase  (+1,891)
|4,832.5
|-
| [[Sedgley]]
|11,750
|Decrease (-337)
|3,118.2
|-
| [[Upper Gornal and Woodsetton]]
|13,592
|Decrease  (-201)
|4,134.4
|-
| [[Wollaston, West Midlands|Wollaston and Stourbridge Town]]
|13,429
|Increase  (+337)
|4,603.1
|-
| [[Wordsley]]
|12,440
|Decrease  (-412)
|4,225.1
|-
| colspan="4" |Source: ONS 2021 Census data<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=2021 Census |url=https://www.allaboutdudley.info/home/key-topics/2021-census/ |access-date=2023-07-04 |website=All About Dudley Borough |language=en-GB}}</ref>
|-
|}

===Demography===
{| class="wikitable" id="toc" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; width: 40%;  text-align:center" cellspacing="5"
|+Ethnic population in Dudley
|-
![[2021 United Kingdom census|2021 UK Census]]||Dudley Borough||[[West Midlands (region)]]||England
|-
| Total population||323,488
|5,950,757
|56,490,048
|-
| White||84.9%
|77.0%
|81.0%
|-
| Mixed groups||2.8%
|3.0%
|3.0%
|-
| Asian/Asian British||8.4%
|13.3%
|9.6%
|-
| Black/Black British||2.5%
|4.5%
|4.2%
|-
| Arab & other groups||1.4%
|2.1%
|2.2%
|-
!colspan=4|Source: ONS 2021 Census<ref name=":0" />
|}

At the [[2021 United Kingdom census|2021 Census]], the total population of Dudley Metropolitan Borough was 323,488, an increase of 10,563 from the [[2011 United Kingdom census|2011 Census]]. The population density was 3,320.4 residents per square km compared to the West Midlands region population density was 457.8 residents per square km.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2021 Census |url=https://www.allaboutdudley.info/home/key-topics/2021-census/ |access-date=2023-07-04 |website=All About Dudley Borough |language=en-GB}}</ref>

84.9% of Dudley's population identified as White, with 82.4% identifying as [[White British]], 0.3% as [[Irish migration to Great Britain|White Irish]], and 2.1% as Other White. The second largest ethnic group was [[Asian people|Asian]] and [[British Asian]], making up 8.4% of the population (an increase from 2011 where the figure was 6.1%). [[Black people|Black]] and [[Black British]] people comprised 2.5% of the population of the borough (an increase from 2011 where the figure was 1.5%).<ref>{{Cite web |title=2021 Census |url=https://www.allaboutdudley.info/home/key-topics/2021-census/ |access-date=2023-07-04 |website=All About Dudley Borough |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Statistics on religious beliefs show that 49.3% of the population identify as [[Christians|Christian]] (65.3% in 2011), with the second largest religious group being [[Muslim]], at 6.2% (4.1% in 2011). 36% identified as having no religion.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2021 Census |url=https://www.allaboutdudley.info/home/key-topics/2021-census/ |access-date=2023-07-04 |website=All About Dudley Borough |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Unemployment amongst those aged 16 and over in the borough stood at 3.8%, slightly higher than the national average of 3.5%. 41.1% of those aged 16 and over were economically inactive, consisting of 24.3% retired, 5.2% looking after homes or family, 4.5% long-term sick or disabled, 4.2% students and 3.0% other economically inactive.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2021 Census |url=https://www.allaboutdudley.info/home/key-topics/2021-census/ |access-date=2023-07-04 |website=All About Dudley Borough |language=en-GB}}</ref>
{{clear right}}
{| class="wikitable" id="toc" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; width: 40%; text-align:center" cellspacing="5"
|+Religion in Dudley
|-
![[2021 United Kingdom census|2021 UK Census]]||Dudley Borough||[[West Midlands (region)]]||England
|-
| Total population||323,488
|5,950,757
|56,490,048
|-
| Christian||49.3%
|46.6%
|46.3%
|-
| Buddhist||0.2%
|0.3%
|0.5%
|-
| Hindu||0.7%
|1.5%
|1.8%
|-
| Jewish||0.0%
|0.1%
|0.5%
|-
| Muslim||6.2%
|9.6%
|6.7%
|-
| Sikh||1.6%
|2.9%
|0.9%
|-
| Other||0.5%
|0.5%
|0.6%
|-
| No Religion||36.0%
|32.9%
|36.7%
|-
| Not Stated||5.5%
|5.7%
|6.0%
|-
! colspan="4" |Source: ONS 2021 Census<ref name=":0" />
|}

==Economy==
A part of the [[Black Country]], Dudley traditionally has been an industrial centre of [[manufacturing]], [[quarry]]ing, and [[mining]], although this has declined in more recent years, with a shift in focus towards the [[Tertiary sector of the economy|service sector]] (accounting for 79.1% of employment)<ref name=nomis>{{cite web|title=Labour Market Profile - Dudley|url=http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/lmp/la/2038431967/report.aspx#tabjobs|publisher=nomis - Official Labour Market Statistics|access-date=4 August 2012}}</ref> and [[tourism]]. Despite this, there are still numerous large industrial sites around the borough, such as the [[Pensnett Trading Estate]], with the manufacturing industries making up 15.3% of employment.<ref name=nomis/>

Tourism is of increasing importance to the local economy, with approximately 6,600 people employed within the sector.<ref name=nomis/> Attractions such as the [[Black Country Living Museum]] and [[Dudley Zoo]] bring in hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dudley.gov.uk/business/regeneration/tourism-development/visitor-figures-for-attractions-in-dudley/|title=Visitor Figures for Attractions in Dudley 2015}}</ref>[[File:Merry Hill Shopping Centre - geograph.org.uk - 1124314.jpg|thumb|The [[Merry Hill Shopping Centre]] is one of the [[List of UK shopping centres|largest shopping centres in the UK]]|none]]The [[Merry Hill Shopping Centre]] in [[Brierley Hill]] is one of the [[List of UK shopping centres|largest shopping centres in the UK]] and is the main retail centre of the borough, with an average of 23.5 million visitors a year, and houses branches of several large retailers including [[Primark]], [[Marks & Spencer]], and [[Next (clothing)|Next]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Property Portfolio - Merry Hill |url=http://www.westfield.com/corporate/property-portfolio/united-kingdom/merryhill.html |publisher=Westfield Group |access-date=4 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120626162024/http://www.westfield.com/corporate/property-portfolio/united-kingdom/merryhill.html |archive-date=26 June 2012 }}</ref>

Other large employers in the borough include [[JCDecaux]] UK, which has its Birmingham area office in [[Halesowen]],<ref>"[http://www.jcdecaux.co.uk/contact/?departmentid=58 Contact] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301040459/http://www.jcdecaux.co.uk/contact/?departmentid=58 |date=1 March 2012 }}." [[JCDecaux]] UK. Retrieved on 28 September 2011. "JCDecaux - Birmingham 209-215 Long Lane Halesowen, West Midlands Birmingham, B62 9JT"</ref> [[Rentokil Initial]], and [[Midtherm Engineering]].

==Tourism and visitor economy==
Dudley borough has an increasing tourism offer, with attractions such as the [[Black Country Geopark]] being recognised in 2020<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-07-10|title=Black Country awarded Unesco geopark status|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-birmingham-53361073|access-date=2021-11-03}}</ref> and the Stourbridge Glass Museum due to open in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Stourbridge Glass Museum|url=https://www.stourbridgeglassmuseum.org.uk/|access-date=2021-11-03|language=en-GB}}</ref> Tourism and the visitor economy is an important sector to the borough, supporting approximately 8,000 jobs.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Tourism Development|url=https://www.dudley.gov.uk/business/regeneration/tourism-development/|access-date=2021-11-03|website=www.dudley.gov.uk|language=en}}</ref>

Many of the borough's tourist attractions draw on the industrial heritage of the area. For example, the [[Red House Cone|Red House Glass Cone]] is an original structure from the 18th Century glass making industry in Stourbridge.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Red House Glass Cone|url=https://www.dudley.gov.uk/things-to-do/museums/red-house-glass-cone/your-visit/|access-date=2021-11-03|website=www.dudley.gov.uk|language=en}}</ref> The site includes designer-maker studios, galleries and hot glass studio. The Stourbridge Glass Quarter locality is also home to [[The Lace Guild]], Glasshouse Heritage Centre<ref>{{Cite web|title=Glasshouse Heritage Centre {{!}} Ruskin Glass Centre|url=https://ruskinglasscentre.co.uk/history-heritage/|access-date=2021-11-03|website=ruskinglasscentre.co.uk}}</ref> and hosts the International Festival of Glass<ref>{{Cite web|title=About the festival|url=https://www.rmlt.org.uk/Pages/Default.aspx?CategoryTitle=about-the-festival&SubsiteTitle=international-festival-of-glass|access-date=2021-11-03|website=Ruskin Mill Land Trust|language=en}}</ref> every 2 years, most recently in 2019 with the 2021 festival postponed to 2022<ref>{{Cite web|title=International Festival of Glass & British Glass Biennale postponed|url=https://www.cgs.org.uk/news/international-festival-of-glass-british-glass-biennale-postponed/|access-date=2021-11-03|website=Contemporary Glass Society|language=en-GB}}</ref> due to the covid-19 pandemic.

The Caste Hill area of Dudley is also a hub of visitor attractions including the [[Black Country Living Museum]] and the Canal and Tunnel Trust.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Home - Dudley Canal Trust|url=https://dudleycanaltrust.org.uk/|access-date=2021-11-03|language=en-GB}}</ref> [[Dudley Zoo|Dudley Zoological Gardens]], which is also in this area, is the second most visited paid visitor attraction in the West Midlands.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Most visited paid attractions in West Midlands 2020|url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/425281/most-visited-paid-attractions-in-west-midlands/|access-date=2021-11-03|website=Statista|language=en}}</ref> The Archives and Local History Centre is now also the home of the council run [[Dudley Museum and Art Gallery|Dudley Museum]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dudley Museum's treasures saved under move to new home|url=https://www.expressandstar.com/news/politics/2016/06/10/dudley-museums-treasures-saved-under-move-to-new-home/|access-date=2021-11-03|website=www.expressandstar.com|date=10 June 2016 |language=en}}</ref> The museum is also the headquarters of the [[Black Country Geopark]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dudley Museum at the Archives|url=https://www.dudley.gov.uk/things-to-do/museums/dudley-museum-at-the-archives/|access-date=2021-11-03|website=www.dudley.gov.uk|language=en}}</ref>

Along with sites recognised as part of the Geopark, the borough has seven nature reserves<ref>{{Cite web|title=Nature Reserves|url=https://www.dudley.gov.uk/things-to-do/nature-reserves/|access-date=2021-12-01|website=www.dudley.gov.uk|language=en}}</ref> and many parks contributing to its green spaces. In 2021, the [[Green Flag Award|Green Flag award]] was obtained by seven of the boroughs sites ([[Buffery Park]], Huntingtree Park, [[Mary Stevens Park]], [[Priory Park, Dudley|Priory Park]], [[The Leasowes]], [[Wren's Nest|Wrens Nest National Nature Reserve]] and [[Saltwells Local Nature Reserve|Saltwells National Nature Reserve]]).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dudley Council parks and green spaces get Green Flag status|url=https://www.dudley.gov.uk/news/dudley-council-parks-and-green-spaces-get-green-flag-status/|access-date=2021-12-01|website=www.dudley.gov.uk|language=en}}</ref> [[Mary Stevens Park]] and [[Priory Park, Dudley|Priory Park]] were also awarded Green Heritage Site status, with Abbey Road Allotments recognised with a Green Flag Community Award.

Despite not being in the bounds of Dudley borough, [[Himley Hall|Himley Hall and Park]] is owned and run by Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council. In addition to the 180 acres of ‘[[Capability Brown|Capability’ Brown]] landscaped parkland, the Hall has a gallery exhibition space<ref>{{Cite web|title=EXHIBITIONS {{!}} Himley {{!}} Himley Hall & Park|url=https://www.himleyhallandpark.co.uk/exhibitions|access-date=2021-11-03|website=himleyhall New Site|language=en}}</ref> and is a wedding venue.

==Regeneration==
Large public and private sector developments have taken place in the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley since its creation in 1974.

The closure of [[Round Oak Steelworks]] in December 1982 paved the way for the creation of the [[Merry Hill Shopping Centre]] on nearby farmland between 1985 and 1989. The Waterfront leisure and commercial complex was developed on the site of the steelworks itself between 1989 and 1995.

[[Pensnett Trading Estate]] in [[Kingswinford]] has been developed since the 1960s for mostly light industry and services.

A major redevelopment of [[Halesowen]] town centre took place in 2007/08, when the bus station was rebuilt and a section of the 1960s shopping area demolished to make way for a new [[Asda]] superstore.

A similar redevelopment of [[Stourbridge]] town centre in 2011/12 saw most of the Crown Centre completely rebuilt to incorporate a new [[Tesco]] superstore.

There are currently several major regeneration projects throughout the borough. Significant infrastructure projects include the new Dudley Transport Interchange<ref>{{Cite web|last=Cardwell|first=Mark|title=£24.1 million Dudley Interchange project approved by combined authority|url=https://www.expressandstar.com/news/local-hubs/dudley/2021/02/12/approval-for-241-million-dudley-interchange/|access-date=2021-11-04|website=www.expressandstar.com|date=12 February 2021 |language=en}}</ref> and the Wednesbury to Brierley Hill [[West Midlands Metro]] extension.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-01-29|title='Exciting future' for Dudley as tram works begin|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-birmingham-51299344|access-date=2021-11-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Wednesbury To Brierley Hill Metro Extension – Midland Metro Alliance|url=https://metroalliance.co.uk/projects/wednesbury-to-brierley-hill-extension/|access-date=2021-11-04|language=en-GB}}</ref>  The 11&nbsp;km metro extension will connect Dudley, Merry Hill and Brierley Hill with the metro network and so to the proposed [[High Speed 2|HS2]] line. The first phase to Dudley town centre is expected to open for passenger services in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wednesbury To Brierley Hill Metro Extension – Midland Metro Alliance |url=https://metroalliance.co.uk/projects/wednesbury-to-brierley-hill-extension/ |access-date=2023-06-02 |language=en-GB}}</ref> The second phase will then extend to Brierley Hill, terminating in Cottage Street in the town centre following an additional £60million funding from central government.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Madeley |first=Peter |date=2023-03-15 |title=£60 million funding boost for Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Metro line in Budget |url=https://www.expressandstar.com/news/politics/2023/03/15/60-million-funding-boost-for-wednesbury-to-brierley-hill-metro-line/ |access-date=2023-06-02 |website=www.expressandstar.com |language=en}}</ref>

Regeneration projects around the Castle Hill area are combining innovation and education. The Black Country and Marches Institute of Technology opened in September 2021<ref>{{Cite web|title=About Us|url=https://www.blackcountryandmarchesiot.ac.uk/about-us|access-date=2021-11-04|website=IoT|language=en-GB}}</ref> and focuses delivery on higher level courses in manufacturing and engineering, medical engineering, modern construction methodologies and digital technologies. The Very Light Rail (VLR) National Innovation Centre will provide a research facility for the development of VLR technologies and projects. The centre will redevelop the former [[Dudley railway station|Dudley Railway Station]] and reconnect the town with the National Rail Network.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Very Light Rail (VLR) Innovation Centre and Rail Line, Dudley - Railway Technology|url=https://www.railway-technology.com/projects/very-light-rail-vlr-innovation-centre-and-rail-line-dudley/|access-date=2021-11-04|website=www.railway-technology.com|language=en-GB}}</ref>

The DY5 Business and Innovation Enterprise Zone was launched in 2017 with the ambition to create 7,000 new jobs over 25 years.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About {{!}} Dudley Business First|url=https://www.dudleybusinessfirst.org.uk/dy5-zone/about/|access-date=2021-11-04|website=www.dudleybusinessfirst.org.uk}}</ref> The zone is centred around the Brierley Hill area.

The Dudley Townscape Heritage programme is on ongoing programme of work improving historical buildings in Dudley town centre. Phase 1 ran from 2008-2015, phase 2 from 2017-2023.<ref name="dudley.gov.uk">{{Cite web |title=Dudley Townscape Heritage Programme |url=https://www.dudley.gov.uk/residents/planning/historic-environment/historic-buildings-and-structures/heritage-led-regeneration/dudley-townscape-heritage-programme/ |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=www.dudley.gov.uk |language=en}}</ref> Phase 2 started following a [[National Lottery Heritage Fund]] grant of £1.2 million.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Townscape Heritage|url=https://www.dudley.gov.uk/residents/planning/historic-environment/historic-buildings-and-structures/heritage-led-regeneration/dudley-townscape-heritage-programme/|access-date=2021-11-04|website=www.dudley.gov.uk|language=en}}</ref> As part of the programme historic buildings were identified, repaired or restored. Heritage trails and open days were also developed.<ref name="dudley.gov.uk"/> In addition, further development of the former [[Dudley Museum and Art Gallery]] site has been proposed as part of a £4million scheme.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-05 |title=Plans submitted for multimillion-pound entertainment quarter {{!}} TheBusinessDesk.com |url=https://www.thebusinessdesk.com/westmidlands/news/2075679-plans-submitted-for-multimillion-pound-entertainment-quarter |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=West Midlands |language=en}}</ref> The former Sessions Court in the same complex of buildings been converted into Brookes Bistro restaurant.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-21 |title=New bar and bistro opens this week |url=https://www.dudley.gov.uk/news/new-bar-and-bistro-opens-this-week/ |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=www.dudley.gov.uk |language=en}}</ref> Named for [[Brooke Robinson]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Brookes Bistro |url=https://www.brookes-bistro.co.uk/about-brookes-bistro |access-date=2023-07-06}}</ref> who was a former MP and coroner for Dudley and left a bequest which led to the building for the former [[Dudley Museum and Art Gallery|Museum and Art Gallery]], Town Hall and Coroners Court.

==Housing==
Relatively little new [[council housing]] has been built in the borough since the early 1980s, with almost all of the new social housing developments since then being built by [[housing association]]s. Most of the older private housing in the borough has been renovated rather than demolished during this time. However, there have been a number of redevelopment programmes involving 20th century council housing. In July 1999, four of the borough's tower blocks (two at Eve Hill in Dudley and two at Tanhouse in Halesowen) were demolished on consecutive weekends in controlled explosions. Two years later, two more tower blocks at Queens Cross in Dudley were demolished using the same method. Four tower blocks in Netherton are scheduled for demolition in 2017/18. In 2009, 266 homes on the predominantly 1930s [[Priory Estate]] in Dudley were demolished and the land later redeveloped with new housing. In the mid-1990s, the neighbouring [[Wren's Nest]] Estate underwent extensive refurbishment as well as improved community facilities in a multimillion-pound project funded by the [[European Union|European]] [[Single Budget]]. Four blocks of low-rise flats on the estate were demolished as part of the regeneration.

Since 2017 small developments of council housing have been built, including bungalows, housing and low-rise flats.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2014-10-25|title=Dudley Council in £40m new homes plan|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-birmingham-29770272|access-date=2021-11-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=New build council homes|url=https://www.dudley.gov.uk/residents/housing/housing-options/new-build-council-homes/|access-date=2021-11-04|website=www.dudley.gov.uk|language=en}}</ref> Some properties have been designed to accommodate those with specific physical needs or those in need of supported living. The homes have been built across the borough ([[Brierley Hill]], [[Coseley]], [[Dudley]], [[Halesowen]], [[Kingswinford]], [[Gornal, West Midlands|Lower Gornal]], [[Sedgley]] and [[Stourbridge]]). During this period Dudley Council have also built a number of homes for private sale.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Private homes for sale|url=https://www.dudley.gov.uk/residents/housing/housing-options/private-homes-for-sale/|access-date=2021-11-04|website=www.dudley.gov.uk|language=en}}</ref>

In November 2021 Dudley Council was named homebuilder of the year<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dudley Council wins homebuilder of the year|url=https://www.dudley.gov.uk/news/dudley-council-wins-homebuilder-of-the-year/|access-date=2021-11-29|website=www.dudley.gov.uk|language=en}}</ref> (organisations with 16,000 homes or more category) at the Inside Housing UK Housing Awards.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Shortlist|url=https://ukhousingawards.co.uk/shortlist/shortlist/shortlist|access-date=2021-11-29|website=UK Housing Awards|language=En}}</ref>

==Education==
[[File:Dudley College, Evolve Campus.JPG|thumb|left|Evolve Campus of [[Dudley College]]]]

===Tertiary education===
There are two [[further education]] colleges in the Dudley Borough: [[Dudley College|Dudley College of Technology]], [[Halesowen College of Further Education|Halesowen College]]. The borough is also home to the [[King Edward VI College, Stourbridge|King Edward VI]] [[sixth form college]] in Stourbridge, originally a [[grammar school]] established in 1552, converting to a sixth form centre in 1976. A small number of secondary schools in the borough offer sixth form facilities, while several others did so until the beginning of the 1990s when the local authority decided to concentrate post-16 education in further education colleges.<ref>{{cite web|title=About King Edward's: History|url=http://www.kedst.ac.uk/new/about/publications/more/history|publisher=King Edward VI College|access-date=27 July 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140125203905/http://www.kedst.ac.uk/new/about/publications/more/history|archive-date=25 January 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

In March 2011 [[Eton College]] and Star Academies announced their intention to open one of three sixth form colleges in Dudley, subject to funding through the [[Department for Education|Department for Education’s]] Free Schools Programme.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Star Academies and Eton to open three academic sixth forms in Dudley, Middlesbrough and Oldham |url=https://www.etoncollege.com/news-and-diary/school-news/star-academies-and-eton-college-to-open-three-academic-sixth-form-free-schools-in-the-north-of-england-and-west-midlands/ |access-date=2022-06-01 |website=Eton College |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Since the [[University of Wolverhampton]] closed its Dudley campus in 2002, the metropolitan borough is the largest district in the UK without its own university.<ref>{{cite news|title=Campaign to bring a university to Dudley|url=http://www.dudleynews.co.uk/news/blog/austinsblog/2124363.Monday_March_17___Campaign_to_bring_a_university_to_Dudley/?ref=rss|access-date=27 July 2012|newspaper=Dudley News|date=17 March 2008}}</ref> Several projects in the Castle Hill area of the Dudley are now linking with local universities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dudley Towns Fund {{!}} Regenerating Dudley {{!}} Dudley |url=https://www.regeneratingdudley.org.uk/dudley-towns-fund |access-date=2022-06-01 |website=Regenerating Dudley |language=en}}</ref> The [https://www.blackcountryandmarchesiot.ac.uk/ Black Country & Marches Institute of Technology] opened in September 2021, with a focus on higher level engineering courses, it partners [[Dudley College|Dudley College of Technology]], [[University of Wolverhampton]], [[University of Worcester]], In-Comm Training Services Limited and Avensys UK Limited.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dudley College {{!}} The Black Country & Marches Institute of Technology |url=https://www.dudleycol.ac.uk/Institute-of-Technology |access-date=2022-06-01 |website=www.dudleycol.ac.uk}}</ref> A Higher Education Centre for Health & Care is proposed as a partnership between Dudley College of Technology and University of Worcester and expected to be open for Autumn 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New fly-through video reveals vision of future in Dudley |url=https://www.dudley.gov.uk/news/new-fly-through-video-reveals-vision-of-future-in-dudley/ |access-date=2022-06-01 |website=www.dudley.gov.uk |language=en}}</ref>

===Primary and secondary education===
{{See also|List of schools in Dudley}}

There are 104 Dudley Council schools: 78 Primary, 40 of which include a Nursery Unit (24 Primary [[Academy (English school)|Academy]]); 19 Secondary (of which 15 are Secondary [[Academy (English school)|Academy]] Schools) and 7 [[Special education|Special Schools]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Schools and Colleges|url=https://www.dudley.gov.uk/residents/learning-and-school/school-information/|access-date=2021-11-03|website=www.dudley.gov.uk|language=en}}</ref> Pupils transfer to secondary school at the age of 11, although between 1972 and 1990 pupils in the north of borough transferred to secondary school at the age of 12, and from 1972 to 1982 there was a three-tier education system in Halesowen where pupils entered first school at 5, middle school at 9 and secondary school at 13.<ref>{{cite web|title=School Information|url=http://www.dudley.gov.uk/education-and-learning/schools-and-colleges/school-information/|work=Education and Learning|publisher=Dudley MBC|access-date=27 July 2012}}</ref>

The borough had well over 30 secondary schools on its creation, although this was quickly reduced as a result of the introduction of the comprehensive system a year later, which resulted in a number of schools being merged or closed.

By September 1990, however, the number of secondary schools in the borough had fallen to 22 as a result of the closure of Gilbert Claughton and Mons Hill Schools and the merger of High Park and Longlands Schools in Stourbridge to form Ridgewood High. A year earlier, [[Castle High School (Dudley)|Castle High]] had been formed in the town centre of Dudley from a merger of [[The Dudley School]] and [[Blue Coat School]]; this new school also took in some of the former Gilbert Claughton and Mons Hill pupils. The 1980s had also seen the closure of some the borough's less popular and smaller primary schools, with the older buildings mostly being demolished and the more modern ones being converted for community use.

The closure of [[Cradley High School]] in Halesowen in July 2008 saw the number of secondary schools in the borough fall to 21, dropping to 20 with the closure of [[Pensnett High School]] in July 2012, and to 19 when the Coseley School closed five years later.

When the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley was formed, many primary schools existed as separate infant and junior - or first and middle schools, but by 1990 virtually all of the separate schools had been merged to create full age-range primary schools, the last separate infant and junior schools to merge were Red Hall in Lower Gornal in January 1997.

There are no grammar schools in the borough since the mid-1970s, all secondary state schools have been [[comprehensive school|comprehensive]].  The former grammar schools in the borough were Dudley's Boys Grammar and Girls High Schools (merged with Park Secondary Modern School in 1975 to form The Dudley School, which in turn merged with The Blue Coat School to form Castle High in 1989), Sir Gilbert Claughton Grammar School in Dudley (which adopted comprehensive status in 1975 before closing in 1990), Brierley Hill Grammar School (actually situated in Kingswinford; it has been known as the Crestwood School since adopting comprehensive status), King Edward VI Boys Grammar School in Stourbridge (which is now a mixed sixth form college), Stourbridge Girls High School (which merged with the Boys Grammar School and Valley Road Secondary Modern School to form Redhill School), Halesowen Grammar School (which merged with Halesowen Technical School to form Earls High School) and High Arcal Grammar School in Sedgley (which survived as a comprehensive school).

The sole independent school in the borough is the [[Elmfield Rudolf Steiner School]] in Stourbridge, which follows the [[Waldorf Education|Steiner Waldorf]] curriculum.<ref>{{cite web|title=About Us|url=http://elmfield.com/about/|publisher=Elmfield Rudolf Steiner School|access-date=27 July 2012}}</ref>

The [[Old Swinford Hospital]] school in Stourbridge is one of only 34 state-funded [[boarding school]]s in England, with education being funded by the [[local education authority]] (LEA).<ref>{{cite web|title=About the school|url=http://www.oshsch.com/about-the-school/|publisher=Old Swinford Hospital|access-date=27 July 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728155433/http://www.oshsch.com/about-the-school/|archive-date=28 July 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

==Healthcare==
The main [[National Health Service|NHS]] hospital serving the borough is [[Russells Hall Hospital]], situated to the south of Dudley town centre. Following a major expansion of the hospital in 2005, all inpatient services were transferred to the site from smaller hospitals around the borough, resulting in the closure of [[Wordsley Hospital]], and the downgrading of the [[Guest Hospital]] and [[Corbett Hospital|Corbett]] hospitals into outpatient centres.

[[Psychiatric hospital|Psychiatric care]] is offered at the [[Bushey Fields Hospital]], located adjacent to Russells Hall Hospital.[[File:Hospital Entrance - geograph.org.uk - 363896.jpg|thumb|[[Russells Hall Hospital]]|none]]

See also [[Healthcare in West Midlands]].

==Localities==
''See [[List of areas in Dudley]]''

==Freedom of the Borough==
The following have received the [[Freedom of the City|Freedom of the Borough]] of Dudley. The Roll of Freeman is displayed in the Council House on wood panelling at the entrance to the Council Chamber.
[[File:DMBC_roll_of_freemen_20220316.jpg|thumb|Example of the panelling which lists the Roll of Freeman in Dudley Council House]]

===Individuals===
* William Humble, Earl of Dudley: 10 January 1899
* Brooke Robinson: 11 September 1906
*  Sir Gilbert Henry Claughton, Baronet: 9 November 1912
* Edwin John Thompson: 24 November 1936
*  John Harry Molyneux: 24 February 1959
*  John Collcott Price : 23 April 1963
*  Harry Clifford Whitehouse: 23 April 1963
* Percy Dale Wadsworth: 25 April 1973
* Bert Bissell: 19 February 1981
* William Eley Homer: 9 March 1989
* John Thomas Wilson: 9 March 1989
* John James Curley: 23 January 1992
* Frederick Stuart Hunt: 18 May 2000
* [[Lenny Henry|Sir Lenny Henry]]: 25 February 2013.<ref>{{cite news |title=Lenny Henry gets freedom of home town Dudley |work=BBC News |date=9 October 2013 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-birmingham-24469735 |access-date=3 March 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=db3PL2qYwMY|title=Lenny Henry picked up the official Freedom of Dudley Borough|last=Dudley MBC|date=18 May 2022|via=YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQ5d-EXfQQY|title=Lenny Henry - Freeman of Dudley Borough|last=Dudley MBC|date=18 May 2022|via=YouTube}}</ref>
* David Murray Caunt: 13 July 2015
* David Sparks: 13 July 2015
* [[Jordanne Whiley]]: 30 November 2015.<ref>{{cite web |title=Wheelchair tennis star Jordanne Whiley says Dudley honour is just ace |url=https://www.expressandstar.com/news/2015/11/21/wheelchair-tennis-star-jordanne-whiley-says-dudley-honour-is-just-ace/ |website=The Express and Star |date=21 November 2015 |access-date=19 May 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
* Roy Richardson: 4 December 2017<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.expressandstar.com/news/business/2018/06/07/business-legend-roy-richardson-is-now-a-freeman-of-dudley/ |title=Merry Hill tycoon Roy Richardson given Freedom of Dudley borough   |last=Penfold |first=Simon |date=7 June 2018 |website=The Express and Star |access-date=19 May 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Businessman Roy Richardson to get the freedom of Dudley |url=https://www.dudley.gov.uk/news/businessman-roy-richardson-to-get-the-freedom-of-dudley/ |website=Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council |access-date=19 May 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
* Hilary Bills: 20 May 2021
* Les Jones: 20 May 2021
* Ian Marshall Kettle: 20 May 2021

===Military units===
* The Worcestershire Regiment: 8 April 1961
* The Staffordshire Regiment (The Prince of Wales's): 29 April 1967
* The Mercian Regiment: 15 October 2007
* The Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry: 22 February 2010
* [[Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry]] ([[Army Reserve (United Kingdom)|TA]]): 30 June 2012<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/regiment-to-receive-freedom-of-dudley-187778|title=Regiment to receive freedom of Dudley|first=Brett|last=Gibbons|date=29 June 2012}}</ref>
* [[RAF Cosford]]: 4 December 2017<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stourbridgenews.co.uk/news/15701387.Businessman_and_RAF_Cosford_honoured_with_freedom_of_the_borough/|title=Businessman and RAF Cosford honoured with freedom of the borough|website=Stourbridge News|date=4 December 2017 }}</ref>
* 63  Company, 6 Battalion Military Intelligence Company [[Intelligence Corps (United Kingdom)|Intelligence Corps]]: 18 February 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.halesowennews.co.uk/news/17734153.military-intelligence-unit-to-be-honoured-with-freedom-parade/|title=Military intelligence unit to be honoured with freedom parade|website=Halesowen News|date=28 June 2019 }}</ref>

===Organisations and groups===
* National Health Service, Public Health, Adult Services, Children's Services, Bereavement Services and Care Sector Workers: 23 July 2020

==See also==
{{Portal|England}}
* [[Evolution of Worcestershire county boundaries]]
* [[South Staffordshire Line]]

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120204234256/http://councillors.dudley.gov.uk/home/borough-wards/ Dudley Borough Wards]

{{Wards of Dudley}}
{{West Midlands County}}
{{West_Midlands}}
{{Metropolitan districts of England}}
{{History of local government districts in Worcestershire}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dudley, Metropolitan Borough of}}
<!--Categories-->
[[Category:Metropolitan Borough of Dudley| ]]
[[Category:Metropolitan boroughs of the West Midlands (county)]]
[[Category:NUTS 3 statistical regions of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership]]