Dudley Council could be ordered to pay for own appeal after homes plan rejected

Dudley councillors refused an application for conversion of a Stourbridge care home to flats despite warnings they could cost taxpayers cash.

At a meeting on September 3, members of the authority’s planning committee threw out proposals to turn the former Woodlands Care Home in Wollaston into a house and four separate flats.

Plans for the Bridle Road building, which were submitted by the authority itself, sparked a campaign against the proposal from residents and ward councillors about issues including on-site parking and road safety.

Committee member, Andrew Barnfield, said: “Residents have got concerns on this issue, when you are on the ground and you see a vehicle on there it highlights the limited space that is there.

“If a vehicle cannot turn round and has to reverse out of that drive, it is at the end of the road, there is a school down the road, parents will walk up and down there with children.

“If somebody is reversing out of that property it is a recipe for disaster.”

The committee was told by a council highways officer the design, which has allocated parking spaces, conformed to standards based on industry research.

The council’s planning officers recommended approval, a planning officer told committee members: “If you are minded to recommend refusal that is in your gift, my advice to you is based on expert evidence.

“If you do go down the route of refusing, members need to be aware that there is a risk that will be challenged.”

Applicants can challenge a refusal by appealing to the Planning Inspectorate and the inspector can order the losing side to pay costs if it is found the refusal was not based on sound planning grounds.

The planning officer added: “With any application like that there is always costs even when it’s a council application and an inspector might be minded to do that, you need awareness that could happen when the technical guy says otherwise.”

The committee voted to reject the application on the basis there was inadequate parking and road safety concerns.

The result prompted applause from the public gallery and celebrations by campaigners including Wollaston councillor Andrew Tromans.

Cllr Tromans said: “I am thrilled that following the site visit the planning committee has thrown out this loopy planning application.

“This has brought huge relief to residents after a two year struggle.

“It would be madness for council officers to spend more money by appealing to the Planning Inspectorate in Bristol.

“I look forward to discussing better uses for the site which are more in line with the community’s wishes.”