BRIERLEY Hill High Street is set to benefit from a £2 million cash injection, after being selected as one of a handful of town centres across the country to be in line for a funding boost to protect heritage buildings.

The money will be used to improve buildings that have fallen into a state of disrepair and will help bring them back into public use as shops or housing.

The announcement comes weeks after the Government announced Brierley Hill was one of 100 towns selected to go forward into the next phase of assessment for the Future High Street initiative, which if successful could lead to a further £16 million being pumped into the area.

Historic England agreed Dudley Council's funding bid as part of the Heritage Action Zone, which will see the council make a complete funding application by January 2020.

If successful, the final figure for funding will be announced next year and money will come through over the next four years.

Along with improving dilapidated buildings, plans also include improvements to the street scene, gateway entrances to make the street more attractive and a pedestrian link to the upcoming Metro stop.

Councillor Ian Kettle, cabinet member for regeneration and enterprise, said: "This is absolutely brilliant news. This substantial investment from Historic England will allow us to invest in Brierley Hill, supporting local businesses and hopefully enticing new businesses to this central location. We look forward to working with them on the next stage of this process, the Programme Design.

"Alongside the Metro extension which will be coming to Brierley Hill in 2023, and the DY5 enterprise zone this investment will help us breathe new life into the town and continue to make Brierley Hill the place to work, invest and grow.

"On top of that we have the green light to progress a bid for £16million from the government’s Future High Streets Fund, which means we are continuing to invest in this important town centre.”