£3 million Halesowen College arts centre finally gets go-ahead

The college has faced a battle to gain support for the facility and had to withdraw initial plans after concerns were raised by fire chiefs.

But after being amended, the application gained the unanimous backing of Dudley Council's planning committee.

The two-storey centre will provide teaching rooms and rehearsal space for students on music, drama and dance courses.

The Whittingham Road college has been struggling to provide enough space for the growing number of students taking performing arts courses, with some being forced to travel off campus to use facilities at Benjamins, a function hall in the town centre.

The college's plans hit a stumbling block last year when council fire officers raised concerns.

The new complex was due to be connected to other buildings at the Whittingham Road site by a glass walkway, which the college had hoped to use as an exhibition space and break area for students.

But the officers said as the link way would be the main escape route for the block in an emergency it would need to be left clear, putting a stop to the college's plans.

Councillors agreed the amended plans were now suitable for the site but not everyone is pleased with the impending arrival of the new facility.

College leaders have had to contend with a backlash from dozens of people living near the site who feared it would exacerbate problems on surrounding roads already clogged with parked cars.

Resident David Clarke, who lives in Greenbush Drive, made a last-ditch bid to defeat the application by writing to the council to complain the arts centre would heighten problems with traffic and parking.

In the letter he said increased traffic flow would exacerbate an 'already critical parking situation' on the roads surrounding the campus.

He added: "We have repeatedly reported that the failure by the college to provide car parking solutions for the high number of students who drive to the college and so need to park their cars means that our residential streets are adversely affected with vehicles left by college staff and students."

Halesowen councillor Karen Shakespeare said she was pleased the college had finally secured permission to build the facility but admitted problems with parking needed to be looked at.

She said: "There are lots of issues around parking and those issues need to be addressed.

"But this is a positive thing for the college. If it's going to bring fresh arts projects into the college that can only be a good thing for people trying to get those kind of skills."