Flats plan for derelict Walsall shop approved
A crumbling shop and house in Walsall that have stood empty for years will be converted into new flats after plans were given the go-ahead.
Walsall Council planning officers have given the go-ahead to West Bromwich Road property owner Fawzia Bibi to create the four new apartments.
In the application, agent Paul Clifton Associates said the buildings are in poor condition having stood empty for a number of years.
Previously, an application to build an extension on the side of the shop was granted and, although work did begin it was never completed.
Once the renovation is complete, there will be three one-bedroom flats and a single two-bedroom apartment on the site.
The application said: “The properties have been vacant for many years and are in a state of some disrepair.
“A planning application for the two-storey extension was approved in 2006, this work was started at some later date but never completed.
“The proposal is to convert the property to four self-contained flats this would involve completing the approved extension and refurbish the whole of the property.
“Whitehall Nursery & Infant School is alongside. The other surrounding properties are typical terraced houses probably dating from the 1920’s or earlier. The development would retain the domestic scale in line with its surroundings.
“It is appreciated that the parking provision does not meet the council’s standards.
“But the site is within walking distance of the town centre, very close to main arterial route and thus well served by public transport, readily available community and shopping facilities, so car ownership may not be a priority for the occupants of the flats.”
