Aldridge housing plan as community centre scrapped

Plans for a new £300,000 community centre in Aldridge have been scrapped because of a lack of interest.

The base was earmarked for land at the former Redhouse JMI School as part of transformation of the site including new homes.

But the community centre plan has now been shelved. Residents want more homes built on the site instead.

Walsall Council planning officers have backed proposals for five extra houses on the land under delegated powers. Head of planning David Elsworthy said: "The proposal is to develop five houses instead of a community centre, but as there has never been a community centre on this site there is no obligation to provide one.

"In light of feedback from residents on earlier schemes against the inclusion of a community centre concerning potential noise and disturbance, lack of parking and lack of funding to maintain such a building, it is considered that residential development is an acceptable alternative."