Apartment plan to rejuvenate crime-hit Walsall neighbourhood
A project to build dozens of apartments on a former scrap yard site and help rejuvenate a crime-hit Walsall area has been backed by planning bosses.
Accord Housing and Square Space Ventures are looking to create 71 flats in three blocks on land off Wolverhampton Road, on a major route into Walsall town centre.
Members of Walsall Council’s planning committee approved the proposal, subject to a section 106 agreement being signed.
The properties will be built in three blocks on the land, near the former Harvestime Bakery and next door to Emmanuel School, with 58 car parking spaces provided.
Planning officers said they worked with the applicants to help put together an acceptable scheme to alleviate concerns about anti-social behaviour in Holyhedge Close at the back of the development site.
Officer Andrew White said: “We have done a lot of work with the applicant to address concerns the committee previously had about safety and security plus also concerns police have had in the location.
“It gives surveillance, it is fenced off and has a central parking area to accommodate the development itself. We consider it an acceptable scheme.”
But committee member Aftab Nawaz said the ‘gated community’ could leave the apartments isolated from the rest of the area.
Tony Corbett, of Square Spaces Ventures, said: “Our intention was not to create a gated community.
“The security measures have gone in at the request of planning officers and it is primary to stop the anti-social behaviour of which there is, I gather, quite a lot.
“So it is certainly something that has been put there following negotiation and discussions.”
He added that they believe the scheme would enhance the area and were keen to start work on the project in the new year.
Mr Corbett added: “The site has already been allocated for housing and gone through detailed consultation with planning officers and we believe we have satisfied of all their specific demands
"We believe this scheme will bring forward a problem site that has been around for many years now."
