A major new tourism project which stalled because of financial issues has been kickstarted by a fresh round of funding.
The £30 million ‘Forging Ahead' scheme will expand the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley to showcase the history of the area in the 1940s, 50s and 60s.
The project, said to be the largest at the museum since it opened in 1978, will comprise a visitor welcome centre, learning spaces, industrial quarter and an historic town.
It will expand the size of the museum by around a third and allow it to cater for around half a million visitors a year, creating 140 new jobs in the process.
The first phase of the project will feature 22 historic buildings and structures, including the recreation of Wolverhampton's iconic Elephant and Castle pub, while Dudley's Woodside Library will also be transported to the museum and be rebuilt brick-by-brick.
The project was halted due to a funding gap that had arisen because of the cost of cleaning up the derelict industrial site but the West Midlands Combined Authority has now committed capital to pay for the clean up and make the land ready for development.
Detailed negotiations are now taking place with the museum on the final terms of the investment.
Museum chief executive Andrew Lovett said: "Forging Ahead is now more important than ever to the future of the museum and our region.
"It provides added momentum to thrive once again for our community following the unprecedented challenge of the pandemic.
"The modern Black Country, with its rich global connections and diversity of people, is the enduring legacy of the 1940s to 60s.
"It is a legacy to be proud of. Forging Ahead provides a new stage upon which we can share new stories and celebrate the contribution of everyone who came to call the Black Country home during this period of history.
"We're hugely grateful for the West Midlands Combined Authority's support and investment at a critical stage in our project."
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street added: "The museum's Forging Ahead project is an incredibly exciting one and I'm pleased we have made a commitment to intervene and enable this new heritage and cultural asset to proceed.
"The new historic town should be quite the attraction, especially the iconic pub and library that are being painstakingly rebuilt brick-by-brick.
"The museum is right to be ambitious because it has the potential to create a real jewel in the Black Country's crown as well as exciting opportunities for new jobs, volunteering and skills development.
"The museum already does a fabulous job of capturing and conveying the Black Country's amazingly rich heritage and these new additions to the museum estate will take it to another level."
