Plan to turn 196-year-old Dudley pub into children's home is turned down after 149 objections
Plans to turn a 196-year-old Black Country pub into two children's care homes have been turned down after fierce opposition from residents.
Blackeye Property's plan to convert the former Bush Inn in Dudley into a children's care complex has been rejected by planners after attracting almost 150 objections from residents.
The plans also sparked opposition from Dudley Council's children's services department, which said the location was unsuitable.
Head of planning Carl Mellor has refused planning permission on the grounds that the location is unsuitable for such a development, and that the lack of recreational space meant the site would be unsuitable for the children.
Blackeye applied in January to turn the pub in Buffery Road into an unspecified 'residential institution' - sparking fears that it could be a bail hostel.
The company later clarified it would be a 13-bedroom children's home providing accommodation for 11 vulnerable children in need of residential care.
It said the building would be divided into two units, one to accommodate five children and the other for six.
In the daytime there would be a total of eight-12 staff on duty, falling to four-six overnight.
Shain Akhtar, commissioning officer for children's services at Dudley Council, expressed opposition to the plans.
He said the site was at a very busy road junction, which was known to have been the scene of several accidents.
"The area is known for antisocial behaviour and high crime, and the surrounding area has a number of houses of multiple occupation (HMOs)," said Mr Akhtar.
"This would not be a suitable place for a children’s home or an HMO."
