Homes on way at former Tipton pub site despite safety fears
Planning experts have ruled townhouses and flats should be built on the site of a former pub despite concerns from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) about a potentially dangerous gas pipeline running under the pavement in front of the land.
The HSE has tried to block the development on the site of the Cottage Spring in Tipton, but Sandwell Council officers have stated it should be allowed to go ahead.
The HSE said plans for six two-bed apartments and four three-bed townhouses in Alexandra Road would be a 'major hazard' due to the pipeline running along the footpath in front of the site.
However, in 2011 the proposed residential scheme was granted planning consent despite the pipeline and HSE raised no objections for the same current proposal of 10 homes.
Councillor Ian Jones said the site is an 'eyesore' and approval should be given for the houses.
He said: The pub was knocked down around five years ago and it's been left empty since so it's become an eyesore.
"If the gas pipeline was important then there would've been an objection for the houses which are already there rather than just this one site.
"Hundreds of houses have been built in that area over the last three years so I can't understand what the difference is now.
"New homes are always needed."
The proposed development will be built in a single L-shaped block.
A shared parking area would serve the apartments with individually allocated garages and drives serving the houses.
The application will go to the planning meeting on March 1.
