Pub blight to be removed in transformation
A vandal-hit former pub will be converted into apartments after complaints it has become a blight on the community.
The Aladdins Lamp in Darlaston has been standing empty for months and already become a magnet for youths.
Plans to restore and transform the building, which had been a source of anti-social behaviour when open, were lodged with Walsall Council.
The scheme to turn it into seven apartments in Wiley Avenue South has now been approved by planning chiefs under delegated powers with the backing of ward councillors.
The application by agent Daljit Bharya said: "The Aladdins Lamp is an important building and makes a special contribution to the unique character of Wiley Avenue South.
"The development proposal will ensure the well-being and proper use of a building that is at present showing signs of accelerating decline and disrepair to the main fabric of this ageing structure.
"The level of decline now requires more than routine maintenance and repair; the present condition is the result of many decades of minimal investment and now requires major overhaul and urgent action.
"Those major works can be implemented within the proposed conversion, to bring this building back to an acceptable condition.
"We have chatted to some local residents who are in approval of our proposed conversion as, when the public house was running, there was many issues with anti-social behaviour and there are many other public houses within a 15 minute walking distance."
He added the building was falling into decay and had been vandalised and was 'blighting the area'.
"The era of the public house is passing on. The benefits gained for the other local residents will be less street noise at the later parts of the day or from people drinking during the day in the beer garden," the report adds.
The project includes a rear and front extension and will see a mixture of seven one and two-bedroom units created.
Councillor Chris Bott said: "It is another pub that has been lost but at least it is not going to be left for years and years and keep being vandalised. It is a blight on the area.
Councillor Paul Bott added: "It has started to be vandalised. It will give the residents some peace and quiet rather than being a pub. Anti-social behaviour was spilling out."
