Grand homes planned for huge garden
Two aspirational homes with a “sense of grandeur” could be built in a huge garden of a listed Walsall property.
A proposal to construct the four-bedroom properties in the grounds of the existing house in Birmingham Road have been submitted to Walsall Council planners.
Despite the size of each of the proposed houses, which would have a frontage onto the adjacent Queens Road, applicant Gordon Little said there is plenty of room for them in the large 0.35 hectare garden.
Agent Paul Clifton Associates also completed a heritage assessment of the proposal and concluded the development would make a “positive contribution” to the area.
The existing property, known as ‘Park Hill House’ was built around 1860 and has been locally listed by Walsall Council for its historic and architectural value.
In the application, Paul Clifton Associates said: “The surrounding area is typified by larger detached properties, perhaps some of the most expensive in the borough.
“The application seeks approval for two large, detached houses which would fit well into the area and provide the requirements for aspirational properties close to the town centre.
“The houses, although with a sense of grandeur, will still be of domestic proportion.
“The site is situated off Queens Road, Walsall in an affluent part of the borough where houses of this type are desperately needed.
“The site is about 2.5 km from Walsall Town Centre which has every facility that would be required.
“Local shops are within 1.0 km from the site and schools, community facilities, and religious establishments are all available within walking distance.”
In the heritage statement, the agent added: “The (garden) area is overly large even given the size of the property.
“We considers the loss would not be detrimental to the locally listed building.
“In some ways it will help – the maintenance of the grounds is a large expense which would be more wisely spent safeguarding the fabric of the buildings.
“Development around and about the property has continued throughout the centuries.
“Historic research shows that ‘Park Hill House’ stood in an isolated position for many decades until development surrounded it, starting in the early 1950s and continuing through to the development of the Park Hall estate in the late 1960s.
“The scheme if approved would make a positive contribution to the area and as such should be strongly supported.”
