New lease of life for pub under plans
A vandal-hit historic pub in Dudley which has been closed for 35 years will be given a new lease of life as apartments, under fresh plans.
The Gipsies Tent Inn, in Steppingstone Street, which dates back to the 19th century, has been left boarded up for decades.
It has been targeted numerous times by vandals and arsonists, and stripped of many of its original features.
But now developers have revealed proposals to convert the landmark building, which has become an 'eyesore' in recent years, into four one-bedroom and two two-bedroom apartments.
A three-storey extension will be build on the Greystone Street side containing six two-bedroom apartments.
In the planning application lodged with Dudley Council, agent Andy Law, of Complete Design, said significant refurbishment work was needed to bring the building back into use.
"The building dates from 1841 and closed down in 1980," he said. "It has since fallen into disrepair and requires total refurbishment including the replacement of floors and roofs. The property has suffered severe vandalism and has been stripped of many of the original fittings and features.
"The building is rapidly deteriorating and is a target for vandalism theft. It has also been subject to numerous arson attempts which have made the rear of the building unsafe.
"For these reasons we urge the local authority to support this development by giving a positive response."
The history of the Gipsies Tent dates back to when there was a brewery at the site run by the Millard family from around 1886 until 1961.
A pub continued until 1980 when the building was boarded up.
Since then it has been vacant but over the years the building has been targeted by fly-tippers and arsonists.
Earlier this year, there was a blaze on site after vandals sneaked into the premises and started a small fire.
Proposals surfaced for the site three years ago to convert the building into a 10-bed care home but despite being granted planning permission work never materialised.
The plans for the pub follow Dudley Council revealing its plans to encourage more people to live in the town centre. The council's housing chiefs say they want to ensure there are 'affordable' options for families and help increase footfall in the town.
They say shops and restaurants will be benefit from more people being on the doorstep during the day and in the evenings.
Among the housing projects on the cards is the conversion of former council offices dotted around the town's civic quarter into 90 homes.
And the historic former post office on the corner of Wolverhampton Street and Priory Street has been earmarked for 21 apartments.
