Revamp of gateway scrapped

A planned revamp of a rundown gateway into Stourbridge has been scrapped. The former Langer's Army and Navy Stores in Enville Street had faced demolition.

Now the scheme, which involved building new apartments, has been ditched.

The news has come as a setback for the planned clean-up of the route, used by hundreds of people to get into the town centre.

It was originally hoped the empty shops in Enville Street, which it is claimed have become drugs dens and a magnet for vandals, would have been bulldozed before the end of this year after plans for 32 apartments were approved in June.

But Shane Richards, of developers Ravenscroft, said the initial plans were now not going ahead. Instead the company has sold the option to another developer, Churchhill's, which is now considering putting in an application for elderly people's homes on the site.

However, that is not expected until later next year, which means the army and navy stores building will remain standing.

Mr Richards said: "We are doing all we can to push things through as quickly as we can.

"As soon as we can get it demolished, we will."