Flats plan for vandal hit care home in Walsall
A decrepit old Walsall care home that has been plagued by break-ins and anti-social behaviour is set to be converted into apartments.
Walsall Council’s planning committee is expected to give the green light to plans to create 13 flats on the former Heath View home on Wilkes Avenue in Bentley.
If approved, the plan – put forward by developer Parminder Singh – will see 12 studio apartments and one three-bedroom flat created on the site.
In the application, agents said the building is in a poor condition and has been plagued by issues including people breaking in for a number of years.
It has been empty for more than a decade and previous applications to redevelop it have failed to materialise.
A report to the committee, which will meet on Thursday to discuss the issue, said three letters of objection had been received by neighbours.
These were based on parking issues and questioning the need for more residential in an area where there are a number of existing housing developments.
But planning officers said the plan was acceptable and there would be minimal harm caused to neighbours and are recommending approval, subject to conditions.
Agent Stephen Symonds said: “Historically, the site was originally granted planning permission as a nursing home.
“In March 2000, a Certificate of Lawful Use was approved for the building to be used as a warden controlled sheltered accommodation for the elderly.
“In 2006 for the purposes of classification the building was confirmed as being vacant and unused, with no use class title.
“Planning permission was granted in 2008 for a change of use from sheltered accommodation for the elderly to eight self-contained flats for vulnerable young adults aged 16 – 25 years. This planning consent, however, was never implemented.
“Over the past few years the site has seen a number of recorded break-in’s and reported incidents of anti-social behaviour, with various areas of the building exterior now displaying a very poor appearance.”
