Darlaston housing development to go ahead after fears it could be axed

Last year, Village Partnerships Limited was granted permission to demolish the Armstrong Building in The Green and Booth Street and build 24 houses and apartments in its place.

They said grant funding from Homes England needed for the development, which will be run by provider Black Country Housing Group, required it to be 100 per cent affordable.

But obligations to provide a range of housing under the original Section 106 agreement drawn up with Walsall Council planners meant they wouldn’t be able to achieve the target.

As a result, funding from Homes England would not be provided and the scheme would not progress.

However, an agreement with planners has now been reached to amend the agreement and the 100 per cent affordable rental properties can be built.

Agents Claremont Planning said: “The grant funding from Homes England has been secured on the basis of the delivery of a 100 per cent affordable scheme providing solely affordable rental accommodation.

“The Section 106 Agreement currently prohibits this grant funding from being secured to deliver the scheme.

Local needs

“Affordable rental units are considered to be the optimum affordable housing type for this location and reflects the local needs identified by the Black Country Housing Group as well as corresponding with documented needs in the surrounding area of Darlaston.

“The variation of the S106 Agreement that is sought will enable the approved development to be delivered as a 100 per cent affordable scheme with no tenure mix prescribed or management company required.

“The 100 per cent affordable scheme should be considered beneficial to the area and in accordance with Walsall’s strategy to deliver the right housing to meet established needs.”

The Armstrong Building is a former industrial unit which has been empty for a number of years.

In 2018, a proposal to replace it with a 14-home development was given the green light but it never materialised.

The current plan will see 14 houses and 10 apartments being created once the building has been taken down.

In the application, BM3 architecture said: “The aim of this scheme is to create a safe, secure and desirable place to live in.

“The development aims to provide a high quality and attractive residential development that enhances and responds positively to and reflects the existing character of the surrounding area.”