Leading officials from Historic England visited Dudley to see how their cash funding has sparked positive change in the borough.
The Mayor of Dudley, Councillor David Stanley, welcomed a delegation led by Louise Brennan, recently appointed regional director of Historic England (Midlands).
She was joined by colleagues Nick Carter, inspector for scheduled monuments, and Sarah Lewis, inspector for historic buildings and areas.
The delegation first visited the mayor’s parlour, where council officers outlined plans for the proposed Black Country Geopark and discussed the heritage-led regeneration of Dudley town centre.
Historic England has most recently awarded £2 million to the council to establish a Heritage Action Zone in Brierley Hill, and an introduction to those plans was outlined as well.
The group were then taken on a tour of Dudley town centre led by Jayne Pilkington, senior conservation officer for the council. She showed areas where help from Historic England has sparked regeneration, including the conversion of The Old Glass House restaurant in Stone Street.
In the afternoon the group were then taken on a tour of Dudley Zoo & Castle by zoo director Derek Grove, with particular focus on the 20th century Tecton structures there.
Councillor David Stanley, the Mayor of Dudley, said:
