Nod to 170 new homes on former landmark Walsall factory site

Planning chiefs said the homes plan for the old Servis UK washing machine distribution complex in Darlaston would tidy up a derelict site.

Councillors voted unanimously to approve the Darlaston Road scheme - despite receiving five letters of objection, with neighbours and businesses raising concerns about road safety, noise and worries over the security of their properties.

Landowner West Register (Realisations) Ltd, backed by the Royal Bank of Scotland, secured outline permission to build a mixture of two-bedroom apartments and two, three, four and five-bedroom homes.

Chairman of the planning committee, Councillor Fred Westley, said: "Anything which tidies up derelict sites and brings them back into use is welcomed by the members of Walsall Council.

"This is a prominent site. It brings homes for local people."

The Royal Bank Of Scotland, which has brought the 11.24-acre site to market, has said the major residential scheme will provide 1.4 per cent of the housing requirement in the Black Country Core Strategy, which aims to deliver 11,973 homes in Walsall between now and 2026.

Bosses said it would also create a 'significant' number of construction jobs.

Previous plans to build shops, restaurants, housing and leisure attractions on the land, in Kings Hill, two years ago were shelved.

This prompted criticism from councillors representing the area who hoped for long-term job creation developments instead of housing.

However, no firm plans were ever produced for retail or leisure facilities.

It has meant the prominent location just outside the centre of Darlaston has been in limbo since the factory was demolished around four years ago.

Servis UK fell into difficulties in 2008 and administrators were called in during that autumn.

There were 50 employees at the site at the time, but there had been 150 staff before the company began outsourcing work.

The first Servis washing machine was made in Darlaston in 1929 and the firm became a powerhouse for employment.

It is one of the latest large regeneration schemes in the borough to win approval.

More than 400 homes are being built on land in Blakenall after properties were demolished in the area including Shakespeare Crescent.

The £50m transformation of the former Poets Estate is a major part of the regeneration around Harden and Goscote.