Express & Star

Walsall apartment plan given green light

Developers looking to build apartments in Walsall town centre finally got their proposal through at the third time of asking.

Published
Car park in Bradford Street where a new apartment block could be built. PIC: Google Street view

Bradford Street Developments will build a four storey block of 26 one and two bedroom apartments on land currently being used as a makeshift car park.

They have tried to get the go-ahead for the scheme on Bradford Street twice already this year with the issue being deferred on both occasions because of concerns raised by councillors.

But, at a meeting on Thursday night, Walsall Council’s planning committee approved the application without debate.

In January, councillors raised concerns that large refuse lorries would struggle to access the narrow Bradford Lane at the rear of the proposed block where a bin store was going to be situated.

Amended plans to situate the bin store at the front of the development and have staff pull them in and out on refuse collection days failed to prevent a second deferral last month.

Concerns that time centred around the bins blocking pavements, no parking for residents and a lack of disabled access.

But in a report to committee, planning officers said the applicants had addressed the concerns raised and that the development was ready to be progressed.

They added that as the site falls within the Bradford Street Conservation Area, the new build would be a welcome addition to it.

By Gurdip Thandi, Local Democracy Reporter