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Christian Barnett

Local Democracy Reporter covering Sandwell

August 5, 2025

Supporting image for story: New solar-panelled car park planned near Wolves stadium

New solar-panelled car park planned near Wolves stadium

Supporting image for story: Struggling Wolverhampton traders offered rent cut after £9m market plans delayed

Struggling Wolverhampton traders offered rent cut after £9m market plans delayed

Supporting image for story: New plans approved for 180-year-old former Wolverhampton GP surgery

New plans approved for 180-year-old former Wolverhampton GP surgery

August 4, 2025

Supporting image for story: Man charged with attempted murder after stabbing at West Bromwich pub

Man charged with attempted murder after stabbing at West Bromwich pub

August 2, 2025

Supporting image for story: Plan to convert Smethwick Conservative Club into children’s home

Plan to convert Smethwick Conservative Club into children’s home

August 1, 2025

Supporting image for story: Wolverhampton shop could lose licence over gin sting and illegal vapes

Wolverhampton shop could lose licence over gin sting and illegal vapes

Supporting image for story: Eyesore Wolverhampton factory left empty for 50 years to become flats

Eyesore Wolverhampton factory left empty for 50 years to become flats

Supporting image for story: Trampoline park plans for empty Hamstead supermarket approved

Trampoline park plans for empty Hamstead supermarket approved

Supporting image for story: Hearing set to decide whether new cocktail bar can open in Wolverhampton city centre

Hearing set to decide whether new cocktail bar can open in Wolverhampton city centre

Supporting image for story: Padel court plans for new industrial estate in Wolverhampton

Padel court plans for new industrial estate in Wolverhampton

July 31, 2025

Supporting image for story: Fresh bid to build 70 flats on Wolverhampton industrial estate

Fresh bid to build 70 flats on Wolverhampton industrial estate

July 30, 2025

Supporting image for story: Appeal lodged over controversial bungalow plans in Cradley Heath

Appeal lodged over controversial bungalow plans in Cradley Heath

July 25, 2025

Supporting image for story: Plans to demolish ‘dilapidated’ units for new homes in Bilston revised one year on

Plans to demolish ‘dilapidated’ units for new homes in Bilston revised one year on

Supporting image for story: Wednesbury Rugby club set to sign 35-year lease for ground

Wednesbury Rugby club set to sign 35-year lease for ground

July 24, 2025

Supporting image for story: Plans to redevelop ‘decaying’ Wednesbury shopping parade for assisted living flats

Plans to redevelop ‘decaying’ Wednesbury shopping parade for assisted living flats

July 23, 2025

Supporting image for story: Smethwick shop caught selling fake vapes and alcohol without a licence

Smethwick shop caught selling fake vapes and alcohol without a licence

Supporting image for story: Plans submitted for Lidl and homes on site of old Wolverhampton sausage factory

Plans submitted for Lidl and homes on site of old Wolverhampton sausage factory

July 22, 2025

Supporting image for story: Plans to re-open Wolverhampton club a year after being forced to close by the council

Plans to re-open Wolverhampton club a year after being forced to close by the council

July 21, 2025

Supporting image for story: Wolverhampton pharmacy to be demolished and rebuilt as a salon with treatment rooms in transformative plans for a busy high street

Wolverhampton pharmacy to be demolished and rebuilt as a salon with treatment rooms in transformative plans for a busy high street

July 18, 2025

Supporting image for story: More spaces planned for Bilston leisure centre where gym-goers are left struggling to park

More spaces planned for Bilston leisure centre where gym-goers are left struggling to park

Supporting image for story: 127-year-old Bilston pub to be demolished for Lidl car parking

127-year-old Bilston pub to be demolished for Lidl car parking

July 17, 2025

Supporting image for story: Lights out on plan to convert former Oldbury substation into flats

Lights out on plan to convert former Oldbury substation into flats

Supporting image for story: Plan to extend West Bromwich shop for new flats draws criticism over height

Plan to extend West Bromwich shop for new flats draws criticism over height

July 13, 2025

Supporting image for story: £1million work planned to boost numbers at Wolverhampton primary school

£1million work planned to boost numbers at Wolverhampton primary school

Supporting image for story: Number of new homes planned for sites of former Wolverhampton school and training centre cut by a third

Number of new homes planned for sites of former Wolverhampton school and training centre cut by a third

July 12, 2025

Supporting image for story: New plans to covnert £1m landmark Wednesbury home after school move scrapped

New plans to covnert £1m landmark Wednesbury home after school move scrapped

July 11, 2025

Supporting image for story: £1.5m Wolverhampton Aldi supermarket deal agreed by council - here's where the discount store is due to open

£1.5m Wolverhampton Aldi supermarket deal agreed by council - here's where the discount store is due to open

July 10, 2025

Supporting image for story: Plan to raise roof of former West Midlands Lidl supermarket to fit new trampoline park unveiled

Plan to raise roof of former West Midlands Lidl supermarket to fit new trampoline park unveiled

July 9, 2025

Supporting image for story: Council overruled on plans to stop new care home opposite Oldbury primary school

Council overruled on plans to stop new care home opposite Oldbury primary school

Supporting image for story: Empty Great Barr church to become martial arts gym under new plans

Empty Great Barr church to become martial arts gym under new plans

July 8, 2025

Supporting image for story: Homes approved for final part of historic Wolverhampton safe factory site

Homes approved for final part of historic Wolverhampton safe factory site

July 7, 2025

Supporting image for story: Plans to re-open historic Penn pub are approved seven years after it closed down

Plans to re-open historic Penn pub are approved seven years after it closed down

June 10, 2025

Supporting image for story: Wolverhampton Council to write off nearly £2m in debts

Wolverhampton Council to write off nearly £2m in debts

Supporting image for story: Special school plans for £1m landmark home in Wednesbury withdrawn

Special school plans for £1m landmark home in Wednesbury withdrawn

June 6, 2025

Supporting image for story: Plans to build more homes on new estate in Cradley Heath hit by huge landslides

Plans to build more homes on new estate in Cradley Heath hit by huge landslides

Supporting image for story: Bid to turn empty Smethwick unit into private members’ club could still go ahead

Bid to turn empty Smethwick unit into private members’ club could still go ahead

June 5, 2025

Supporting image for story: Wolverhampton venue plagued by violence stripped of licence after ‘various and serious issues’ including alleged kidnapping

Wolverhampton venue plagued by violence stripped of licence after ‘various and serious issues’ including alleged kidnapping

Supporting image for story: Plans for Wolverhampton petrol station to sell alcohol 24/7 rejected

Plans for Wolverhampton petrol station to sell alcohol 24/7 rejected

June 4, 2025

Supporting image for story: Adult cinema and sex shop in Bilston granted new licence

Adult cinema and sex shop in Bilston granted new licence

June 3, 2025

Supporting image for story: Plans for 34 new homes approved next to ‘urban village’ in Wednesbury

Plans for 34 new homes approved next to ‘urban village’ in Wednesbury

Supporting image for story: Decision over late-night venue’s expansion in Smethwick delayed after fire service concerns

Decision over late-night venue’s expansion in Smethwick delayed after fire service concerns

June 2, 2025

Supporting image for story: Wolverhampton Council agrees £75m contract for agency staff

Wolverhampton Council agrees £75m contract for agency staff

June 1, 2025

Supporting image for story: Changes made to West Bromwich school’s planned expansion after drop in projected numbers

Changes made to West Bromwich school’s planned expansion after drop in projected numbers

May 29, 2025

Supporting image for story: Wolverhampton bar and grill facing review after several incidents – including kidnapping

Wolverhampton bar and grill facing review after several incidents – including kidnapping

May 25, 2025

Supporting image for story: Children’s home twice refused by Wolverhampton council will now go ahead

Children’s home twice refused by Wolverhampton council will now go ahead

May 23, 2025

Supporting image for story: Rejected HMO that would cause ‘parking nightmare’ in Oldbury could still go ahead

Rejected HMO that would cause ‘parking nightmare’ in Oldbury could still go ahead

May 22, 2025

Supporting image for story: Sandwell Council to charge food vendors at new West Bromwich indoor market 20 per cent of weekly earnings

Sandwell Council to charge food vendors at new West Bromwich indoor market 20 per cent of weekly earnings

May 21, 2025

Supporting image for story: £334k agreed for six-month work to revamp Wolverhampton park

£334k agreed for six-month work to revamp Wolverhampton park

May 20, 2025

Supporting image for story: Drive-thru coffee shop coming to Bilston supermarket’s car park

Drive-thru coffee shop coming to Bilston supermarket’s car park

Supporting image for story: £1.4m agreed for 75 new school places across two Wolverhampton primary schools

£1.4m agreed for 75 new school places across two Wolverhampton primary schools

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