Homes development for old Willenhall scrapyard approved
A former Willenhall scrapyard that has been the source of constant complaints will finally be transformed into a new residential development.
Walsall Council’s planning committee gave the green light to an application by Tatton Homes to build 41 properties on the old W H Marren Site in Temple Bar, at a meeting on Thursday.
The developer wants to create 13 three-bedroom houses, 20 two-bedroom homes and eight one-bedroom apartments, along with parking and landscaping.
Tatton had originally wanted build 51 homes on the site but this was downsized by 10 to exclude pockets of land not in their ownership and ensure an existing right of way was not impacted.
Committee chairman Mike Bird said the scheme was long overdue and praised officers and the developer for working up an acceptable design.
The authority had received some complaints from residents about the proposal around the impact on traffic, too many properties being created on the site and what they felt was a lack of communication from Tatton.
But no representations were made at the planning committee meeting.
In a report to committee, planners said: “The former scrap yard use has resulted in a number of amenity complaints to the council for many years and the residential scheme represents the chance to remove a bad neighbour use.
“Despite neighbour’s concerns that new homes are overcrowding the area this proposal seeks to remove the bad neighbour use and proposes a density that is acceptable in this urban area close to Willenhall district centre.”
Councillor Bird: “What we have here is development that I would welcome. It is an old scrapyard, and my daughter used to live right opposite there.
“It has been a long time coming forward and I think it has been a testament to the design and the officers’ tenacity to come forward with an application.”
