St Modwen pulls out of £100m Dudley Zoo project

  St Modwen has pulled out of plans for a £100m mixed-use redevelopment of Dudley Zoo and Castle in the West Midlands.   The developer and partners Dudley council and Dudley Zoological Gardens gained consent in March 2007 for the Castle Hill project, which comprises a tourism complex based around medieval castle ruins, a zoo, including a 66ft rainforest dome and Victorian gardens.   The scheme also proposed 43 shops and 65 homes, a pub, motel and food and drink outlets.   However work at the 148-acre site has yet to start and in January Dudley council decided not to renew its development agreement with St Modwen.   Council leader David Caunt said today: “The development agreement expired in January and after careful consideration it was agreed by all parties involved that this presented a natural opportunity to review the current situation.” paul.norman@egi.co.uk