Public inquiry to be held after retirement flats near Dudley rejected
A public inquiry is to be held over plans for a block of retirement flats in Kingswinford which was thrown out by Dudley councillors.
In January the council rejected a proposal to demolish the old Kingswinford Youth Centre building in High Street in Kingswinford to make way for 49 apartments and communal facilities on grounds that vital sports facilities will be lost to the community as Kingswinford Knights FC uses the grounds, and that there was insufficient parking space on the land.
The exiting site has play areas including a basketball court which would be replaced with a multi-use games area, known as a MUGA, however Sport England, the Football Foundation and the Birmingham FA objected to the project and as a result the planners turned it down.
Now the developers who want to build a four-storey building comprising 33 one-bedroom and 16 two-bedroom flats have lodged an appeal which will be held on October 14 at Dudley Council House before a planning inspector.
Churchill Living Ltd said the proposed MUGA and children’s play area would be a welcome replacement for the existing facilities which are at the end of their functional life. And the scheme takes into account the development patterns, size and scale of the existing urban fabric of Kingswinford and would provide accommodation tailored to the specific needs of potential owners.
The notice sates: "Reason for inquiry: Appeal by Churchill Retirement Living Ltd relating to the application to Dudley Council for demolition of the existing former youth centre and erection of 49 retirement living apartments with associated communal facilities, vehicular access, car parking and landscaping.
"Provision of a new multi-use games area and children's play area to the south west of the existing former youth centre at the former Kingswinford Youth Centre, High Street, Kingswinford.
"An Inspector appointed by the secretary of state will hold an inquiry opening on the date shown above to decide the appeal. Members of the public may attend the Inquiry and at the inspector’s discretion express their views. If you or anyone you know has a disability and is concerned about facilities at the inquiry venue, you should contact the council to confirm that suitable provisions are in place.
"Documents relating to the appeal can be viewed on the council's website." See dudley.gov.uk/highstreetkingswinfordappeal/
More details are also available via website gov.uk/appeal-planning-inspectorate. Or write to the Planning Inspectorate: Kerr Brown, Third Floor, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol, BS1 6PN. Or via email to kerr.brown@planninginspectorate.gov.uk stating the reference number APP/C4615V1260/W/24/3351431.
See details about planning applications and planned roadworks where you live at website publicnoticeportal.uk
