Site cleared for warehouse

Eyesore buildings along a main commuter route into Lye – once branded a "bombsite" by business owners – have been demolished to make way for a new development.

Work to clear the former Syd Griffiths Vauxhall Dealership, along The Hayes, has now been completed, with the building of new units set to begin.

Follett Property Holdings will build eight warehouses and a trade counter on the site after permission was granted by councillors last year. Dudley Council's development control committee approved the scheme, saying it would boost an area that had fallen into decay.

There were also concerns the site did not give the right impression as it is on a main route into the town from Halesowen.

The former site was held up as an indication of declining trade and industry in the area – something which it is hoped the new development will turn around, once completed.

Demolition on the site has been ongoing for the past two months. It is believed to be one of the biggest developments to be built in the Lye area for a number of years.

However, some traders fear it will obscure their businesses based along the same route, although they do acknowledge that a development of some kind was needed to boost trade in the town.

Lye councillor Adrian Turner said any kind of development was something to be welcomed. "The whole point is to get Lye to what it once was - a hub for engineering and manufacture in the Black Country," he said.

"Developments of this nature will certainly help," he added.