Homes to be built on site of former Halesowen Fire Station
Moves to demolish a former fire station and replace it with 14 homes has taken a step forward after plans were lodged.
Halesowen Fire Station was earmarked for a residential estate after approval was given for the idea by Dudley Council in January last year.
The station was closed down two years ago despite a campaign by the local community. Cash from the sale will go to an £3million replacement station in Cradley Heath.
Yesterday, Horgan Homes submitted a planning application to knock down the empty building in Hagley Road and build 14 homes.
Under the proposal lodged with Dudley Council, the firm says the estate would be made up of detached, semi-detached and three-storey homes.
It claims the homes would result in a reduction of traffic compared to the station when it was opened.
It also says there will be no parking problems due to the 48 off-street spaces provided in the development.
In papers, the developer said: "The redundant fire station may encourage vandalism, additional families will enhance the security of adjacent properties."
The plan has been welcomed by community leaders in Halesowen.
Halesowen South Councillor David Vickers said: "I think the local people would like anything to be done with it. The building has been left to rot at present and we need action."
Councillor Vickers, however, was not in support of the station's closure.
He said: "I always had a problem with the moving of the fire station, people in Halesowen wanted the station to stay put.
"But the move was passed and we're now looking at a new station being built on our boundary."
The new station will be open in August and will serve Halesowen and Cradley Heath.
It will be at the junction of Barrs Road and Halesowen Road on the site of a former municipal building.
It will be called Haden Cross Community Fire Station and will be a base for 44 firefighters.
Three bays will be created inside the station, for a main fire crew and a smaller response vehicle.
The main building will also be used by the community and there will be built-in educational features to help teach visitors about fire and electrical safety,
Following the closure of Halesowen Fire Station outline plans were submitted for 22 new houses, but the plan was downsized following pressure from local residents.
More than 40 people signed a petition against the initial proposal.
The decision to close the station was made in the wake of the fire service being hit with £10 million in Government funding cuts.
