Wolverhampton shop appeal thrown out by government inspector
A bid to open a shop on a ‘busy rat run’ in Wolverhampton city centre has been dealt another blow after an appeal was thrown out by a government inspector.
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Wolverhampton Council turned down the move to convert the house of multiple occupation (HMO) in Dunstall Road, Wolverhampton, into a new shop last year over concerns it would add to problems in an area already plagued by parking and congestion issues.
The application was first rejected in October 2023 and put forward again without any changes in May last year and rejected again by the council. An appeal was than made by applicant Rohullah Azizi in a bid to get the refusal overturned but was unsuccessful again – with the inspector siding with the council.
The planning inspector said the shop and car park would “erode the character” of Leicester Street with cars and other “comings and goings” disrupting neighbours at time in the evening when they would be “settling down and relaxing.”
The lack of spaces on the proposed car park and dedicated space for deliveries were also reasons to throw out the appeal, the inspector ruled.
Rejecting the application last year, Wolverhampton’s planners said they were concerned the proposed shop, which would open opposite a church and busy medical centre, a row of existing shops and takeaways and on a ‘rat run’ covered in double yellow lines would have an “unacceptable impact.”
The council said the size of the proposed shop would require at least 12 parking spaces but only two would be provided.
The authority’s planning officers said: “The site is located adjacent to the busy mini roundabout at the junction of Staveley Road, Dunstall Road and Leicester Street.
“Staveley Road and Dunstall Road are regularly used by commuters as part of a ‘rat run’ to avoid delays on the primary arterial route along Waterloo Road and Stafford Road.”
The council also said a proposed rear car park, accessed off the narrow Leicester Street which is lined with terraced houses and cars parked on both sides of the road leaving little space, would be “unneighbourly and unacceptable.”
“The coming and going of customers on foot and in vehicles either parking in the street or trying to manoeuvre into the proposed car parking spaces, along with car doors slamming, car stereos and people’s voices, is likely to cause noise disturbance to the detriment of the amenities of the existing and future occupiers of the neighbouring property on Leicester Street,” the council added in its rejection.
