Council rejects cash and carry plans for former West Bromwich ambulance station

Khaled Mohammed began using the former ambulance station in Hargate Lane, West Bromwich, next to the town’s fire station, in 2024 and had applied to Sandwell Council to formalise the arrangement after first not obtaining planning permission.

However, planning officers at Sandwell Council have refused the retrospective planning application saying the the use of the former station as a warehouse was “inappropriate” for the area.

The council added that it was having a “detrimental impact” on the neighbouring Hargate Primary School and nearby homes.

The council had received complaints and had been provided with CCTV footage that showed lorries reversing along the narrow Hargate Lane – which is sign-posted as ‘unsuitable for HGVs.’

Sandwell Council’s highways officers also objected to the application saying the warehouse was causing “safety issues” and Mr Mohammed’s application had lacked detail.

“Given the lack of information provided and the footage and complaints submitted, [we] have concerns regarding the operation of the site.

“HGVs should not be reversing down the adopted highway, and it is sign posted that the roads are unsuitable for HGVs.

“It is clear that the current operation is causing a safety issue along with affecting resident amenity and causing damage.”

A handful of objections had been made against the plan including one from a neighbour who said the area was already congested with cars and a number of shipping containers were ‘making the area look like a port.’

“Already we have received various reports of articulated lorries using the street, despite there being a weight limit on the road, and vans associated with the premises parking on the double yellow lines outside,” the objection said.

“This is not an area which can cope with a storage and distribution facility.

“Moreover, we understand deliveries are currently taking place to and from the site at all times of the day and night. This is a residential area and is not suited to someone running a business on this size or scale.

“There are also currently many shipping containers on the site which make the area look more akin to a port than a residential area.”

E A Plus Ltd has been registered at the former ambulance station in Hargate Lane since March 2024 with the cash and carry wholesaler moving to West Bromwich having been previously registered under two Peterborough addresses.

The planning application by Mr Mohammed said the building had been converted in January 2024.

Sandwell Council bid for the former ambulance station in 2012 to allow neighbouring Hargate Primary School to expand to cope with rising pupil numbers.

The former station had been put on the market for £235,000 by the region’s ambulance trust as part of cost-saving measures.