Walsall Rooftop Food Court Faces Planning Refusal After Unauthorised Opening
Walsall Council's planning committee is set to decide the fate of an unauthorised rooftop food court this week, with officers recommending refusal of the retrospective application. The Rooftop Food Court, located on the fourth floor of the George Street multi-storey car park above Asda, opened approximately twelve months ago without the necessary permissions.
The venue features street food served from shipping containers, an outdoor cinema, seating for 350 people, and utilizes 500 parking spaces. In October 2025, Walsall Council shut down operations, citing an 'immediate risk' to public safety. Following this, leaseholder Easy Park submitted a planning application in November 2025 in an attempt to align the venue with regulations.
Council Actions and Legal Challenges
After the owner, UK Land and Homes, complied with requirements, the council withdrew the stop notice in December 2025. However, the company has since sought compensation from Walsall Council for 'substantial losses incurred' during the closure period. Additionally, Easy Park has applied for a judicial review into the stop notice, arguing the council's approach was 'disproportionate and damaging'.
Despite these efforts, planning officers have advised committee members to refuse the application at the upcoming meeting scheduled for 5:30 PM on Thursday, April 23.
Objections from Statutory Consultees and Residents
Six statutory consultees have raised objections, including:
- West Midlands Fire Service: Concerns over access and facilities for firefighting.
- West Midlands Police: Objection based on associated activities like street racing and antisocial behavior, with no mitigation details provided.
- Highways, Drainage, Environmental Protection, and Conservation: Various issues raised, including an independent drainage consultant's worry about an 'unlawful' foul pipe connection to a highway drain and 'overall quality of the workmanship'.
Four objections from neighbours and interested parties highlighted noise disturbance, proximity to residential properties, increased gatherings, and disorder. Green Square Accord, leaseholder for nearby Shannon’s View, objected over potential removal of residents' designated rooftop parking.
Asda also submitted an objection letter, expressing concerns about loss of car parking spaces, lack of formal assessment to demonstrate the venue's acceptability, and insufficient information on waste, toilets, and foul drainage.
Support for the Application
In contrast, seventy-one comments were submitted in support of the application. Supporters emphasized:
- Increased footfall within Walsall town centre.
- Support for local businesses and supply chains.
- Creation of over 100 jobs.
- Provision of a family-friendly leisure space.
- Enhanced community cohesion.
- Removal of previous anti-social behavior that had blighted the car park, such as vandalism, graffiti, rough sleepers, and drug paraphernalia.
Easy Park stated that the food court has transformed the area into a vibrant, safe, and inclusive leisure space, supporting Walsall's evening economy. The planning committee will make the final decision at the meeting, weighing these opposing views against the recommended refusal.
