Empty Oldbury pub turned 'anti-social behaviour focal point’ to be demolished

A planning application to knock down the former Perry Hill Tavern in Perry Hill Road, Oldbury, has been approved by planners at Sandwell Council.

The application only asks for permission to demolish the pub as a way to prevent the dilapidated building from continuing as a focal point for anti-social behaviour, but indicates the site would be used for housing.

Early plans to build 34 homes on the land once the pub is demolished were presented to Sandwell Council in the summer.

The application said the move to build the homes would be formally submitted to the local authority “in the not too distant future".

A planning application by pub company Stonegate to replace signs for the Sitaar restaurant with new Perry Hill Tavern pub signs was approved by Sandwell Council in April.

The pub was put up for sale in the same month.

The empty pub has been the subject of “numerous” complaints and the application asking to demolish the “dilapidated” building has been put forward after contact from the council’s planning enforcement officer.

The demolition was “an effort to make the site safe and disturbance free as soon as possible” while the housing plans were arranged, the application said.

“The decision to do this has been driven by the fact the empty building has become problematic with criminals breaking in every week and causing disturbance to neighbours and damage to the building,” a statement included with the application said.

The pub closed last year and has been empty since.

The application continued: “It no longer furthers the social well-being or interests of the community and has an unrealistic prospect of a future community use.

“As such, the pub is no longer an asset of community value.”