Key worker flats plan for old shop in Brierley Hill
A prominent old Brierley Hill formal menswear shop could be converted into apartments for key workers.
DOMO Developments are looking to create 15 flats within the property on Dudley Road which they say will be affordable and are needed in the area.
The striking building was previously a wedding outfit and men’s formal wear retailer on the busy road near Brierley Hill town centre and the Merry Hill Shopping Centre.
It sits in the Brierley Hill Conservation Area and the developers said the property will continue to complement the listed buildings it is near once it has been converted.
Agents Claremont Planning said: “(It) occupies a highly sustainable location for residential development, within the strategic centre of Brierley Hill.
“The proposed development seeks to respond to both supply side and market deficiencies identified, through the provision of 15 apartments targeted towards local ‘key workers’ which are to be marketed at an accessible price point for local people.
“The scale and massing of the proposed development is such that the application site will continue to appear subordinate to the larger, locally listed structures adjacent, whilst the introduction of soft landscaping measures to the rear of the site will represent an enhancement of the settings of the locally listed buildings nearby.
“The proposed development therefore seeks to enhance the character and setting of the Conservation Area and surrounding locally listed buildings, and thus presents less than substantial harm to these assets.
“The development is considered to be emblematic of sustainable development, making strong contributions to the social, economic, and environmental objectives.
“As identified, the proposed development seeks to deliver residential accommodation at a highly sustainable urban location, with the housing tenure and type informed by an assessment of local housing needs.
“Moreover, the development ensures that land of the right types is delivered in the right places, responding to changes in the local economy and restoring a viable land use on site.”
Planning officers at Dudley Council are currently assessing the application and will make a decision in the coming weeks.
