Express & Star

Store set to go ahead despite plea for homes

Controversial plans for a supermarket alongside a new care home and GP surgery on a major route are set to be given the green light – despite pleas for more housing to be built on the site instead.

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The £20 million scheme at a key gateway between Wolverhampton and Willenhall, which sparked hundreds of objections, was put on hold at the last planning committee meeting. City councillors voted to negotiate with developers to see if there was any way more homes could be built.

But bosses insist housing would not be "financially viable" and have re-submitted the same plans.

They have been recommended for approval by planning bosses at a meeting on February 5.

The proposals for land off New Road in Portobello would see a 66-room care home being built along with a doctors' surgery and "deep discount" food supermarket, creating 60 jobs.

Thirty people wrote letters of objection and a petition of 274 names was handed in saying there was no need for another surgery or supermarket and that they would rather have more homes built.

Applicants Heantun Housing sent a statement to the planning committee arguing that the plans should be approved.

It stated housing would not be financially viable because power cables run through the site, and noise from the Keyway junction would mean houses would be difficult to sell.

It added: "The care home will include essential accommodation for older people who have been discharged from hospital but are not able to return home."

Howard Lloyd, aged 67, of Dilloways Lane, told the previous planning meeting that there were concerns about safety.

He said: "To get to the supermarket pedestrians would have to use a subway which is in a very bad state."

Councillor Keith Inston said: "I've waited years for this with great hope and I'm disappointed. We already have enough doctors' surgeries and supermarkets. What we need is more homes so that families can have a place of their own to live."

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