Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council
Dudley is a large metropolitan borough council (38 square miles) located on the western part of the West Midlands conurbation, approximately 9 miles west of Birmingham and 6 miles south of Wolverhampton. To the west lies the urban fringe of South Staffordshire and the rural parts of Worcestershire.
Dudley lies at the heart of the Black Country, a part of England unique in terms of its cultural and economic heritage. However, despite its predominantly urban character, an estimated 25% of the Borough is open space (ie: not built upon), including just under 1700 hectares of Green Belt and Wedge, which contribute to its environmental quality and attractiveness. Rather than being dominated by one major centre, Dudley is composed of a number of small townships, each having its own identity and culture. The main town centres are: Dudley itself, Stourbridge in the south-west, Halesowen to the south and east, and Brierley Hill in the middle of the Borough. Adjacent to Brierley Hill is the Merry Hill Centre - one of the largest out-of-centre retail developments in Europe.