Dudley is one of four of the boroughs in the Black Country. It is the fourth most densely populated borough in the West Midlands County with a population of just over 300, 000. 25% of those are under 19 years of age and 22% are over 60 years. 95% of the population is white and of the remaining 5% the largest ethnic group is Pakistani with just over 1%.

 

Brierley Hill, in Dudley, typical of the Black Country as a whole grew up around natural resources including coal. The development of the Round Oak Steel works at Merry Hill and its demise in 1981 devastated the area economically. Pockets of unemployment exist where several generations of families fail to find employment. Education is undervalued and the area has a low ranking in the governments index of multiple deprivation.

 

The development of Merry Hill retail centre has rejuvenated the area including the development of the Waterfront which houses many important organisations including the County Court, the Inland Revenue, the West Midlands Ambulance Service head quarters and the CSA as well as private companies like Egg.  This has led to a

sapping of resources and emphasis from Dudley Town Centre to Merry Hill.

 

Brierley Hill Regeneration Partnership was formed in 2002 to oversee and implement a vision to regenerate Brierley Hill. The three main stake holders being the owners of Merry Hill, Dudley MBC and the Brierley Hill Community Forum. The Community Forum has been driven by the churches and ensures the community  regeneration is central  to the development as well as economic and physical regeneration. This is an ongoing role and a key feature to the eventual quality of the development.