Inspectors to rule on apartments plan for Walsall industrial site
Government inspectors will decide on whether plans to build an apartment block on an industrial site in Willenhall.
Developer Simon North has lodged an appeal with the planning inspectorate claiming Walsall Council had failed to decide on a proposal to erect 14 flats on Gomer Street in reasonable time.
Hybrid, representing Mr North, said the full planning application had been submitted to the authority in August 2020 with it due to be determined in November of that year.
An extension was agreed until August 2021 but a final decision on whether or not to grant the scheme has yet to be made, prompting the appeal to the planning inspectorate.
The matter will be discussed at a Walsall Council planning meeting on Thursday where members will be asked to decide what decision they’d have made if the matter wasn’t subject to the appeal.
Planning officers have recommended refusal because they feel the apartment block would not fit in well with a predominantly industrial area and could result in ‘unreasonable restrictions’ being placed on businesses.
Originally, Mr North wanted to create 18 apartments on the site but said he was advised by planners to reduce the number.
In its statement of case, Hybrid said: “The provision of 14 additional dwellings would contribute to Walsall’s housing under-supply within the current five-year supply period.
“This is a material consideration, which carries significant weight in the determination of this appeal.
“The proposal represents an entirely deliverable, sustainable, and suitable development that will actively contribute to Walsall’s housing stock.
“The proposed development will be sustainably located, as an appropriate alternative site for housing, which benefits from a range of retail, health, schools and community facilities in its immediate vicinity.
“The location of the appeal site therefore minimises the need to travel, whereby the future residents would be in close proximity to the majority of facilities and services.
“The site also offers realistic alternatives to the private car with a comprehensive public transport network, ensuring a fully sustainable location.
“Whilst the site represents a sustainable location to accommodate the proposed development, with accessible local facilities; the proposal also seeks to deliver a highly quality, sustainable form of development, achieving economic, social and environmental benefits.”
A report to committee said: “The proposed residential development would not integrate effectively with the surrounding industrial businesses and it is considered that these existing businesses could have the potential to have unreasonable restrictions placed on them as a result of development permitted after they were established.”
