MORE than 3,000 new jobs could be brought to the borough if plans to turn the ghost town Waterfront complex near Merry Hill into part of a new enterprise zone come to fruition.

The site, which has lain half empty for the last few years following the departure of top firms like Egg, Barclays, Virgin Media and government offices, is among a number of locations in the running to form part of a new Black Country enterprise zone.

Dudley Council has been working with the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership which is proposing the new zone be split among five sites in each of the four Black Country boroughs - Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton - instead of being centred in just one location.

Free or low business rates of up to five years would be used to lure small to medium sized businesses to fill vacant offices at The Waterfront - where it is proposed at least 3,000 new jobs could be accommodated if the bid is approved.

Dudley Council leader, Councillor Les Jones, said: “Half of the space at the Waterfront is unoccupied and it’s high quality office space but we have gone through some bad times with egg and Virgin going and the CSA and other organisations.

“We do really desperately need to get some investment into that area and the mechanics the government has put in place could be the catalyst we need.”

He said the plan could see well over 3,000 jobs created as areas around the Waterfront could also be used to accommodate new offices and industrial units.

Chris Kelly, MP for Dudley South, welcomed the plan, describing it as “brilliant news”.

He said: "Ever since the new enterprise zones were announced by the Chancellor, I have argued that the Black Country has the potential to make the most of the tremendous benefits that a zone would offer.

"I can think of nowhere better than Brierley Hill, and the Waterfront in particular, for such a zone.

“It would be an excellent location because of its good transport links and local infrastructure in addition to the fact that there are lots of skilled people nearby.

“Following the loss of some major employers at the Waterfront in recent years the local economy really needs a focal point."

"Offering business rate discounts, simplified planning approaches and super-fast broadband, an enterprise zone would deliver a real boost to economic growth and jobs in our area."

The Black Country LEP is now working with the Department for Communitities and Local Government and the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills to progress the plan.

No-one from Westfield, which owns the site, was available for comment.