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Flats plan revealed for Stourbridge nightclub

A nightclub could to be knocked down and flats built in its place.

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The Arena nightclub

Plans have been lodged to flatten the Arena club, which has also been known as the Stourbridge Academy, on Hagley Road.

The venue was ordered to tighten security in 2017 after a shotgun was waved in the face of door staff.

Plans submitted to Dudley Council say the nightclub, which was previously the Picture House, would be demolished with residential units to be built on the site.

The venue is still believed to be running and is advertising upcoming events on its website.

Flats would be built on the nightclub site, with further details expected to emerge if the green light is given for demolition.

William Ingram, from agents Plan Survey, said: "It is purely outline, an application has gone in. It will take some time, a few months."

Stourbridge councillor Alan Hopwood said he favoured plans for flats but would be keen to see more details of the proposed development.

He said: "I do give support for flats to be put up there. I'm not a big fan of having too many clubs in the Stourbridge area. It has had problems in the past and when it was the Picture House there were some problems.

"I don't know what kind of flats they would be so I would want to see the plans but would rather see residential than anything overly commercial."

A report from Dudley Council planning officers said: "It is noted that the application form states that there will be no increase in residential dwellings so it is considered that this application is purely for the demolition of the existing building and any proposal for future residential development has no indication of scale."

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