Council rejects plan to demolish Oldbury home for new housing

Sandwell Council turned down a planning application to flatten the house on the corner of Bristnall Hall Road and Knottsall Lane in Oldbury for two new homes and six flats.

The council said two of the flats did not meet the council’s space standards and the new homes also fell below the required size for a three-bed dwelling.

The proposed gardens would also not meet space standards, the council’s planners added.

A report outlining the council’s decision said: “The proposal is considered to represent an over-intensive form of development.

“The location and scale of the apartment block would result in it being positioned within one metre of the back of the pavement and extending forward of the established building line along Bristnall Hall Road.

“Insufficient parking and manoeuvring space are proposed, and the shared amenity space for the apartments is poorly located to the side of the building, raising privacy concerns for ground-floor units as well as issues regarding usability.

“Therefore, the proposed development, by reason of its poor design, inadequate internal and external amenity space, scale, and layout, constitutes an over-intensive and incongruous form of development that would be out of keeping with the established character and appearance of the surrounding area.”

The plan was also criticised by the council’s highways department with parking spaces also failing to meet size standards.

“The head of highways has objected to the application due to the substandard layout and parking provision,” the council’s planners continued.

“The proposed access arrangements, in close proximity to the junction of Knottsall Lane and Bristnall Hall Road, would exacerbate existing highway safety issues.

“The proposal fails to provide adequate turning, manoeuvring, and visitor parking, and does not comply with local highway design guidance.

“As such, the development would be detrimental to the safety and convenience of highway users.”