36 homes planned for old Coseley Baths site

Plans have been put forward by W13 Developments to Dudley Council for 36 properties to be constructed on the land off Pear Tree Lane.

Despite a public campaign to save them, the baths – which were opened in the 1960s – were closed in 2009 and the buildings flattened the following year.

The site, which is owned by the local authority has lain empty ever since.

In 2017, an application for 28 houses was submitted to Dudley Council and was backed by members of the development control committee, subject to a Section 106 agreement being signed.

But the agreement was never signed and therefore the formal decision notice for the scheme was not issued.

Planning agents Simpatico Town Planning said the current scheme being put forward is influenced by the detail of the previous proposal.

If agreed, the new development would see 25 three-bedroom and 11 four-bedroom houses built on the land.

Several objections have been submitted against the project with concerns raised about the loss of wildlife, increase in traffic and noise pollution, as well as potential impact on nearby businesses.

In the application, Simpatico said: “This application proposes the redevelopment of a long-term disused site, the appearance of which presently causes harm to the amenity and character of this area of Coseley.

“The site partly comprises an allocated housing site, and as a whole represents a vacant brownfield site within an existing residential settlement.

“Officers and members have previously supported an application to redevelop the site for housing, albeit without issuing a formal decision notice.

“The principle of redeveloping the site to provide housing is therefore established.

“The submitted scheme seeks to marry up the importance of providing a high quality development which is sensitive to local character, with the importance, given the considerable constraints of the site, of creating a scheme which is financially viable and can practically be brought to fruition in current market conditions.

“The proposed layout is of an appropriate density, including generous front and rear amenity spaces and communal landscaping which would make a positive contribution to the character of the locality.

“The proposed layout also makes provision for a level of off-street parking provision which is appropriate on what is a highly sustainable site, in close proximity to a local centre and also to extensive public transport links.

“The proposed provision of new homes represents a sustainable form of development which would also achieve an efficient use of currently under-utilised land, meeting a clear housing need in the local community, without causing any detriment to the amenity of the area or to the existing residents.”