Permission to demolish part of historic Red House

Parts of a Grade-II listed mansion in Great Barr, which is being turned into homes under a controversial development, will be demolished to improve its appearance, after the Secretary of State granted approval.

Buildings attached to historic Red House, in Redhouse Park, will be taken down after conditional listed consent was granted

The written decision said: "The Secretary of State noted that English Heritage has no objections, subject to the retention and making good of the curved screen wall, and no objections were made by the Amenity Societies or other third parties to the proposals."

Squash courts and public toilets on the north side of the site will go and part of the former Jumping Jacks nursery attached to the building in Hill Lane will be demolished, keeping the curved wall that forms part of the original Georgian house.

The statement added: "During the demolition works to the ancillary buildings hereby granted, the bricks to the Hill Lane elevation shall be salvaged and re-used in the making good of the curved wall attached to the Red House."

The nursery will be taken apart by hand and bricks retained for future repairs on the house.

The historic mansion will become 11 apartments and there are also plans to build seven detached houses or six bungalows on land nearby, off Hill Lane, to make the package more attractive to developers.