New homes planned for Sedgley's old fire station

Plans to build eight new homes on the site of a former Black Country fire station have been lodged with council planners, it emerged today.

West Midlands Fire Service has applied for planning permission for the base in Sedgley in a bid to make it more attractive to developers.

The fire station in Tipton Road closed in November 2008 despite a public campaign to save it, which included a 12,000-name petition, with protestors maintaining it would put lives at risk.

Bosses revealed last month they were working on a planning application to "maximise the sales value" of the site and now proposals for eight semi-detatched three-bedroom homes have been submitted to Dudley Council. If the fire service can secure planning permission it will be able to increase the asking price for the land.

Director of finance Mike Griffiths said: "This is a lengthy process and the outcome of the application will determine the timescale for the disposal of the site."

The plans include reducing the width of the access road, previously used by fire engines.

Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act last month revealed that more than £30,000 has been spent on the station since its closure. The fire service has paid out £23,469 on business rates and also had to fork out £2,049 on security costs and £1,589 on general repairs and maintenance at the site.

The figures also show another £3,027 has gone on telephone line rentals while £1,043 has been spent on water services.

Bosses announced last year that they wanted to sell off the base as it was costing too much to maintain the site ending any hopes of the building reopening as an active fire station again.

The building has also been the target of repeated attacks of vandalism, including three attacks between April and July last year, costing the authority an £5,000.