'Letting Birmingham down': Black Sabbath pub site being used as car park - despite planning refusal

The Crown in Station Street, known as the pub where iconic Birmingham band Black Sabbath performed their first gig, has been vacant for many years despite its cultural legacy.

A campaign to ‘save’ the city centre street, launched after the sudden closure of the Electric Cinema last year, has argued the road and its venues hold huge historical importance for Brum.

But there has now been a fresh wave of concern among campaigners due to the pub site reportedly being used as a car park despite divisive plans being refused earlier this year.

Toyoko Inn, the company which owns the pub and insists it has plans to restore it, was previously seeking approval for an extension of the car park use on the site for a three-year period.

Darren John, from the Save Station Street Campaign, condemned the proposal earlier this year however, arguing it would mean “Toyoko will just twiddle their thumbs for another three years, neglecting The Crown despite their promises”.

He welcomed the city council’s decision to refuse the proposal back in the summer, with the authority concluding it would be contrary to current policy.

“Time for Toyoko Inn to put forward proper refurbishment plans for The Crown as a pub and music venue right now or sell up,” the campaign said earlier this year.

But despite the refusal, it appears the pub site is still being used as an unauthorised car park.

During a visit to the pub on Thursday, December 4, many of the car parking spaces around the back of The Crown were in use while a ‘Euro Car Parks’ sign was advertising parking from £4.50.

The Save Station Street campaign described the situation as ‘disappointing’.

“It shows the continued thumbing of the nose by Toyoko Inn towards the birthplace of Black Sabbath and a key Birmingham civic site,” they argued. “It allows Toyoko Inn to continue generating income and does nothing to progress The Crown’s re-opening.

“For 14 years they’ve let the city down. We don’t know why authorities continue to let them do so.”

After being asked about the car park last week, the city council sent through a short statement yesterday, December 8, and confirmed an investigation was under way.

“Birmingham City Council is aware of the matter and a live enforcement case is ongoing,” a council spokesperson said.

“We will be investigating this in line with the Birmingham Local Enforcement Plan.”

The Local Democracy Reporting Service attempted to contact Euro Car Parks for comment through an online form on its website.

Similarly, contact attempted to be made with Toyoko Inn through a UK architecture firm which has previously acted as its agent.

‘Finalising plans for wider site’

Toyoko Inn’s ownership of The Crown has been deeply controversial with campaigners.

But the company has previously said it has plans to not only restore The Crown but also build a new hotel.

A cover letter, included within the recent proposals, said the plans for the car park would have ‘enabled a stable revenue stream’ for the company, which would help with bringing forward a planning application for a major project at the site.

“At the time of writing Toyoko Inn are finalising their plans of the wider site,” the letter said. “It is the intention that the scope of the future project will deliver two connected and coherent elements.”

It continued that they included a new hotel with around 300 beds on the existing car park at the rear of the site and the restoration of The Crown.

“The pub is a historically important site and its new vision will reflect and celebrate this heritage,” the document said.

It argued the proposed scheme would also make an “important contribution” towards the regeneration of Southside District, with the economic impact predicted upwards of £4 million.

On what progress has been made to advance the project, the letter added that Birmingham City Council had committed its support to the project.

“Discussions and expressions of interest are well advanced with funders in respect of the restoration and construction works,” it added.