Dudley planners reject £4m 'prison-like' apartment block
Dudley planners refused a £4m four-storey apartment block on St James' Road, citing design that 'looked like a prison' and failed to preserve the conservation area's historic character.
Category : Planning Decisions
Dudley planners reject £4m flats branded 'prison-like'
Dudley Council has refused a £4m four-storey apartment block on St James' Road, with a heritage officer calling the design a 'dull rectangular box' that looks 'prison-like'.
Solihull green belt sites for 8,219 homes revealed
Solihull's draft local plan reveals green belt areas for 8,219 new homes, plus 4,877 residential allocations, aiming to meet government targets by 2043.
Ladywood Police Station to Be Replaced by 137 Flats
Birmingham Council recommends approval for demolishing Ladywood Police Station and social club, building 137 apartments, including 47 affordable homes, on the brownfield site.
Dudley footpaths near Crooked House closed until 2027
Dudley Council has closed five public rights of way near Kingswinford and Himley until March 2027 due to public safety risks, including routes near the Crooked House site.
Solihull draft plan: 20,000+ homes target by 2043
Solihull Council's draft local plan proposes 21,913 new homes by 2043, up 58% from previous target, with cabinet to consider it next Tuesday.
Council refuses 550-home greenbelt plan near Wolverhampton
South Staffordshire Council planning officers have refused permission for 550 homes on greenbelt land at Heath House Lane, Codsall, after 638 residents objected.
£20m Causeway Green school plan approved in Oldbury
Sandwell Council unanimously approved £20m plans for a new net zero Causeway Green Primary School in Oldbury, replacing a structurally failing building with a 420-pupil facility.
Second homes bid on Bilston pub site rejected
Walsall Council rejects second application to build nine homes on the site of the fire-destroyed Travellers Rest pub in Bilston, citing parking shortfall and biodiversity concerns.
Sandwell councillors to decide on McDonald's drive-thru plan
Sandwell councillors will make the final call on plans to demolish a motorbike garage for a McDonald's drive-thru on St Annes Road, Cradley Heath, despite a 600-signature petition against it.
Soho Road aparthotel refused amid MP objections
Birmingham City Council has refused plans for an 'aparthotel' on Soho Road after dozens of objections, including from Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood.
Walsall housing plan faces scrutiny over 15,000 homes
Five Conservative councillors call in Reform's approval of Walsall's Local Plan, which allocates 14,943 homes, leaving a 6,083 shortfall against the government's 21,026 target.
Inspector grants 80 Hockley Heath homes after council refusal
A planning inspector has granted permission for 80 homes in Hockley Heath, overturning Solihull Council's refusal and ordering the council to pay costs for unreasonable behaviour.
Government to decide Aldridge green belt homes appeal
An appeal has been lodged for 355 homes on Aldridge green belt land off Stonnall Road, with a government planning inspector set to decide the fate of the 14.1-hectare site.
Walsall councillors to decide on Reedswood school plan
Plans for a 1,000-place school on 13.7 acres of Reedswood Park woodland go before Walsall councillors on Thursday, despite local opposition and Highways objections.
Smethwick HMO plan revised after council rejection
Developers have revised plans for the former Smethwick police training centre, reducing co-living rooms from 76 to 69 after Sandwell Council rejected the previous HMO scheme.
Mansion tax checklist revealed ahead of 2028 levy
Council tax inspectors will use a checklist including views, driveways, and swimming pools to identify homes worth over £2m for Andy Burnham's mansion tax, set for April 2028.
Middlesbrough's biggest changes 'for a generation' unveiled
Middlesbrough has unveiled a Place Strategy and Investment Prospectus with 15 projects, including a new theatre, hotel, and thousands of new homes, aiming to transform the town centre.
Plans for 77 homes at Hagley Road Oratory site
Plans for 77 new homes, a cafe and 100+ parking bays at the former Oratory school site on Hagley Road, Edgbaston, have been submitted to Birmingham City Council, with a decision expected by October 7.
Developer Renews Bid to Demolish Sandwell Pub for Shop
A developer has resubmitted plans to demolish a Sandwell pub and replace it with a convenience store, despite previous rejection. The new application includes revised designs and a smaller footprint.
Stockport faces 3,000+ new homes after housing target miss
Stockport Council may approve over 3,000 new homes after missing government targets, adding a 20% buffer and presumption in favour of approval, boosting green belt development pressure.
40,000 GCSE English resits possible due to marking inconsistency
Nearly 40,000 pupils may be forced to resit GCSE English due to marking differences, with analysis suggesting many deserved a pass. Education Secretary Lucy Powell plans to overhaul the resit system.
Golf club plans 20-space car park from old putting green
Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge has applied to Solihull Council to convert a redundant putting green into a 20-space car park, with four bike spaces, next to new padel courts.
Walsall housing plan: new sites added, thousands cut
Walsall's new Local Plan adds 319 homes across four sites but removes 2,117 allocations, creating a shortfall of 6,083 against the government target of 21,026 homes.
Solihull warns of 'major impact' from new rail housing rules
Solihull councillor Simon Coles warns updated NPPF rules could increase development pressure near 11 railway stations, including green belt areas like Earlswood and Berkswell.
Meriden homeowner faces enforcement after appeal dismissed
A planning inspector backed Solihull Council's refusal of a retrospective application for an outbuilding extension and gravel track at The Woodlands in Meriden, leaving the applicant facing enforcement action.
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National Trust plan rejected at beauty spot
Major National Trust plan at a West Midlands beauty spot rejected amid neighbour fears over privacy, traffic, and environmental impact.
Wigan greenbelt sites withdrawn from local plan after campaign
Four controversial greenbelt sites have been removed from Wigan's local plan after strong opposition, but the council says it can still meet employment needs without building on the land.
Residents fear 'development by stealth' over Wiltshire barns plan
Wiltshire Council grants prior approval for Crown Estate to convert two barns at Moorhouse Farm, Netherstreet, into storage and distribution units, sparking resident anger over lack of public scrutiny.
Birmingham B&B Plans Refused Over Neighbourhood Concerns
Plans to convert a Birmingham house into a bed and breakfast have been refused by council planners due to concerns over noise, parking, and impact on the residential area.
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