Homes plan for eyesore land in Walsall left derelict for five years

Walsall Council planners have given the green light to a proposal by Black Horse Homes Ltd to develop 13 houses on the site, off Woodwards Road.

The land, in the Pleck area near the Sikh temple and Bradford Arms pub, has lain empty since around 2016 after a garage, which previously operated there, was closed and subsequently demolished.

It is currently fenced off and has become overgrown but will soon feature three pairs of semi-detached properties and a single house with a new access road, parking and gardens developed.

The original plan was to build 14 homes on the site but the developers were concerned this would result in a little overcrowding and therefore reduced the number of 13.

Agents C&S Architects said: “The site previously was used as a car repair garage and in 2016 an application was submitted for a mixed apartment and residential development.

“It appears, from the Walsall Planning website that the application was withdrawn before any decision was made.

“It was during this period that the former garage buildings were demolished and the site left vacant.

“The houses have been designed as six semi-detached buildings with a single detached house.

“The scale of the houses is in keeping with the apartment block to Woodwards Road (opposite the site) as well as the large Sikh Temple building across the Walsall Canal.

“Site boundaries are key to the development and the decision was taken to keep the boundary to the canal “open” but secure from vehicular egress.

“This was achieved by the use of one metre high timber posts set close enough to prevent vehicles from slipping down the embankment or parking right on the verge side.

“This should also reduce the impact of fly tipping onto the embankment as there is no fence for rubbish to accumulate behind. It also opens up the site and gives surveillance, both from and into the site.