60 new flats set for Brownhills pub site

ALMOST 60 new flats are to be built on the site of a former pub in Brownhills.

Thomas Vale Construction in conjunction with Trident Housing Association will demolish the partly-derelict former Warreners Arms pub and build the 58 one and two-bedroom flats after Walsall Council granted planning permission for the scheme.

Brooke Smith Planning, which has advised the applicants on the scheme, will now work with the council to finalise the details of the contribution the developer and housing association will make towards improving local amenities.

The design of the scheme, which will comprise rented property managed by Trident, a registered social landlord, will be in keeping with the former pub, which has been vacant since 2004. It has fallen into disrepair to such an extent that retention and conversion is no longer deemed viable.

Keir Price, of Brooke Smith Planning, said: “This is a very positive result. Development of the site has been pursued previously but viability issues and structural problems with the public house meant that a refurbishment scheme was simply not possible. The support from officers and the eventual decision of members to approve the current proposals means that this vacant site will now be brought back into beneficial use.

“It means a key gateway into Brownhills will now be built out and it will go some way towards easing the chronic housing shortage in this part of the Black Country.”

Under the plans, there will be 43 parking spaces at the rear of the building including three disabled parking spaces with gated access.

Construction times will be restricted to protect neighbours from noise and measures are also to be secured to protect future occupiers from the impact of traffic.

In addition, under the New Homes Bonus awarded to Walsall for 2012-2013, if enough new homes are built in the borough, the council stands to receive a bonus of about £1,380 for each home constructed.