Wolverhampton special school homes plans set to be passed

Codsall Developments Limited has submitted an application to redevelop two fifths of the land at School Road, Tettenhall, near to where the old Tettenhall Wood Special School stands.

The firm has applied to build six homes on the site, which has been met with anger from residents who believe a further application will be submitted in the future which would see the school's Victorian front building demolished. Nearly 200 people have signed a petition to prevent it from being destroyed.

The original application states: "The Victorian buildings on the frontage of the site remain vacant and their future is uncertain due to viability issues associated with their structure and the presence of asbestos."

The plans for the six homes have led to claims from Tettenhall residents that their area is being 'destroyed'.

Planning chiefs are set to approve the proposal at a committee meeting on June 2, subject to conditions regarding drainage, construction hours, tree protection measures, targeted recruitment and more.

One condition is that there can be 'no overriding objections received from neighbours'.

Cyril Randles, who is the chairman of the steering group behind the Tettenhall Neighbourhood Plan, said residents aren't against the initial developments but he would like to see the council impose a condition that would see the Victorian building saved.

He said: "Residents have already expressed their concerns over what will happen to the front of the school in the future and that hasn't changed.

"I would like to see a condition attached to the application stating that the developers must leave the frontage alone.

"We aren't against developments on the site or other areas in Tettenhall, they just have to be right,

"The Victorian building is an important part of Tettenhall's history."

The six homes set to be discussed will be arranged as three semi-detached three-bedroom houses and will be aimed at first time buyers or young families.

They will be backing onto the rear gardens of houses on Woodland Avenue and each would have two parking spaces.

A council appraisal of the application states that the plans are in accordance with guidelines from the neighbourhood plan and would not compromise the retention of the Victorian building.

Mr Randles and the neighbourhood plan steering group have previously claimed the consultation leaflet contained misleading information and attempts to associate itself with the group.

Tettenhall Wood Special School closed in 2010 and relocated to Regis Road.