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Christian Barnett

Local Democracy Reporter

Local Democracy Reporter for Sandwell

November 10, 2025

Supporting image for story: Sandwell council tax and garden waste collections to rise to cover £17m hole in budget

Sandwell council tax and garden waste collections to rise to cover £17m hole in budget

November 9, 2025

Supporting image for story: Planning law changes could see council ‘pressured’ into building on Sandwell border

Planning law changes could see council ‘pressured’ into building on Sandwell border

November 7, 2025

Supporting image for story: New hotel and gym could replace empty Sports Direct shop in Wolverhampton city centre

New hotel and gym could replace empty Sports Direct shop in Wolverhampton city centre

Supporting image for story: ‘Dearth of housing applications’ means Sandwell Council making £625,000 less than expected

‘Dearth of housing applications’ means Sandwell Council making £625,000 less than expected

Supporting image for story: Appeal over Cradley Heath bungalow plan that angered neighbours thrown out by inspector

Appeal over Cradley Heath bungalow plan that angered neighbours thrown out by inspector

November 6, 2025

Supporting image for story: A Wolverhampton supermarket owner who was fined over a rat infestation is looking to open a new store in a listed building - here's where

A Wolverhampton supermarket owner who was fined over a rat infestation is looking to open a new store in a listed building - here's where

November 5, 2025

Supporting image for story: Council rejects plan to demolish Oldbury home for new housing

Council rejects plan to demolish Oldbury home for new housing

Supporting image for story: Next step in major scheme to cut congestion on one of Wolverhampton's busiest routes to go before planners

Next step in major scheme to cut congestion on one of Wolverhampton's busiest routes to go before planners

Supporting image for story: Charges to be re-introduced after council buys back Wolverhampton city centre car park

Charges to be re-introduced after council buys back Wolverhampton city centre car park

November 4, 2025

Supporting image for story: Plans to convert Smethwick shop into HMO blocked as ‘cramped’ rooms wouldn’t leave enough space to eat

Plans to convert Smethwick shop into HMO blocked as ‘cramped’ rooms wouldn’t leave enough space to eat

November 3, 2025

Supporting image for story: Council must pay care company after blocking Wolverhampton children’s home move

Council must pay care company after blocking Wolverhampton children’s home move

November 1, 2025

Supporting image for story: West Bromwich shop could lose licence over underage sale and illicit items

West Bromwich shop could lose licence over underage sale and illicit items

Supporting image for story: Offices in Blackheath town centre will be converted into shops - but council split over new flats

Offices in Blackheath town centre will be converted into shops - but council split over new flats

October 29, 2025

Supporting image for story: New canalside homes planned for ‘contaminated and unattractive’ former factory site in Wolverhampton

New canalside homes planned for ‘contaminated and unattractive’ former factory site in Wolverhampton

Supporting image for story: 10 new houses planned for 'neglected' land opposite West Bromwich park

10 new houses planned for 'neglected' land opposite West Bromwich park

October 28, 2025

Supporting image for story: ‘Very special' boarded-up former Black Country pub to be converted into shop and HMO as plans approved

‘Very special' boarded-up former Black Country pub to be converted into shop and HMO as plans approved

Supporting image for story: Developer wants to build more homes on woodland next to Wednesbury estate

Developer wants to build more homes on woodland next to Wednesbury estate

October 27, 2025

Supporting image for story: Eyesore Oldbury pub left empty for 12 years will finally be demolished for new shop and flats

Eyesore Oldbury pub left empty for 12 years will finally be demolished for new shop and flats

Supporting image for story: Council rejects bid for more homes on ‘landslide’ Cradley Heath estate where residents have been cut off

Council rejects bid for more homes on ‘landslide’ Cradley Heath estate where residents have been cut off

October 24, 2025

Supporting image for story: Police object to new club opening in former Smethwick bar after shooting and cannabis farm find

Police object to new club opening in former Smethwick bar after shooting and cannabis farm find

October 23, 2025

Supporting image for story: Delay to Bilston 50-home scheme as plans re-drawn again

Delay to Bilston 50-home scheme as plans re-drawn again

October 22, 2025

Supporting image for story: Developer asks to build new flats after demolishing Great Barr GP surgery without permission

Developer asks to build new flats after demolishing Great Barr GP surgery without permission

Supporting image for story: Wolverhampton restaurant’s unauthorised marquee cannot stay rules inspector

Wolverhampton restaurant’s unauthorised marquee cannot stay rules inspector

October 21, 2025

Supporting image for story: Plan to build more homes and drive-thru coffee shop opposite Cradley Heath railway station

Plan to build more homes and drive-thru coffee shop opposite Cradley Heath railway station

October 20, 2025

Supporting image for story: Police object to late-night party plans at Smethwick industrial unit after council refuses club move

Police object to late-night party plans at Smethwick industrial unit after council refuses club move

October 19, 2025

Supporting image for story: Wolverhampton Council agrees land move to spark start of ‘once in a generation’ 1,000 home redevelopment

Wolverhampton Council agrees land move to spark start of ‘once in a generation’ 1,000 home redevelopment

Supporting image for story: Refurb of Grade II-listed Greggs next to West Brom’s Hawthorns approved

Refurb of Grade II-listed Greggs next to West Brom’s Hawthorns approved

October 17, 2025

Supporting image for story: West Bromwich pub told it can re-open after licence was suspended over failure to call 999 after stabbing

West Bromwich pub told it can re-open after licence was suspended over failure to call 999 after stabbing

Supporting image for story: Sandwell pub car park car wash rejected by council as ‘inappropriate’

Sandwell pub car park car wash rejected by council as ‘inappropriate’

Supporting image for story: Casino in Bearwood High Street applies for permission to open 24/7

Casino in Bearwood High Street applies for permission to open 24/7

Supporting image for story: Work begins on £20m new council flats in Tipton - but 'urgent solution still needed' to Sandwell's housing shortage

Work begins on £20m new council flats in Tipton - but 'urgent solution still needed' to Sandwell's housing shortage

October 16, 2025

Supporting image for story: Empty Tipton pub set to become shops and HMO under new plans

Empty Tipton pub set to become shops and HMO under new plans

October 15, 2025

Supporting image for story: Eyesore Oldbury pub should be demolished for new shop and flats, report recommends

Eyesore Oldbury pub should be demolished for new shop and flats, report recommends

October 14, 2025

Supporting image for story: Wolverhampton council to spend £1.3m on new food waste lorries ahead of law changes

Wolverhampton council to spend £1.3m on new food waste lorries ahead of law changes

October 13, 2025

Supporting image for story: Historic Smethwick industrial estate to finally be demolished for 118 new homes nearly two years after it was emptied

Historic Smethwick industrial estate to finally be demolished for 118 new homes nearly two years after it was emptied

October 10, 2025

Supporting image for story: Empty depot in Rowley Regis to be flattened for 24-hour storage facility after plans approved

Empty depot in Rowley Regis to be flattened for 24-hour storage facility after plans approved

Supporting image for story: Plans submitted to demolish Oldbury pub to make way for 34 new homes

Plans submitted to demolish Oldbury pub to make way for 34 new homes

Supporting image for story: Empty Rowley Regis pub could be demolished to make way for assisted living facility

Empty Rowley Regis pub could be demolished to make way for assisted living facility

October 9, 2025

Supporting image for story: Wolverhampton industrial estate flats plan originally rejected wins approval

Wolverhampton industrial estate flats plan originally rejected wins approval

October 8, 2025

Supporting image for story: West Bromwich pub 'could lose licence' after failing to call 999 over stabbing

West Bromwich pub 'could lose licence' after failing to call 999 over stabbing

October 7, 2025

Supporting image for story: Plans to build six new homes next to Bilston church and primary school approved

Plans to build six new homes next to Bilston church and primary school approved

Supporting image for story: Council decision to reject converting West Bromwich home into sweet shop will be reviewed

Council decision to reject converting West Bromwich home into sweet shop will be reviewed

October 6, 2025

Supporting image for story: Council scrapping sections of delayed and over budget Bilston Market improvements

Council scrapping sections of delayed and over budget Bilston Market improvements

October 3, 2025

Supporting image for story: 'Anti-social behaviour magnet': Bid to open club on Smethwick industrial estate thwarted by inspectors

'Anti-social behaviour magnet': Bid to open club on Smethwick industrial estate thwarted by inspectors

October 2, 2025

Supporting image for story: Plans for 24-hour gym plans on site of former West Bromwich steelworks rejected

Plans for 24-hour gym plans on site of former West Bromwich steelworks rejected

October 1, 2025

Supporting image for story: Former Wolves footballer’s wine bar asks to extend opening hours year after licence suspended over lock-ins

Former Wolves footballer’s wine bar asks to extend opening hours year after licence suspended over lock-ins

Supporting image for story: Council rejects move to replace 100-year-old Bearwood garden shop with new takeaway

Council rejects move to replace 100-year-old Bearwood garden shop with new takeaway

September 30, 2025

Supporting image for story: 100-year-old Wolverhampton home could be demolished to make way for new flats

100-year-old Wolverhampton home could be demolished to make way for new flats

September 29, 2025

Supporting image for story: Ageing Lidl supermarket in Tipton will be demolished and replaced with bigger store

Ageing Lidl supermarket in Tipton will be demolished and replaced with bigger store

September 27, 2025

Supporting image for story: Council to use compulsory purchase powers for plans to regenerate 'eyesore' sites with new homes in Smethwick

Council to use compulsory purchase powers for plans to regenerate 'eyesore' sites with new homes in Smethwick