Housing plan for neglected Willenhall school site approved
Housing will be built on a neglected former Willenhall school and community centre site which has been a ‘hot spot’ for vandalism for years.
Members of Walsall Council’s planning committee granted permission for the principle of up to 59 homes to be created on Allens Rough in Hilton Road, at a meeting on Thursday.
Allens Rough was previously a primary school before later being turned into the Allens Centre. After this closed, the building was subjected to an arson attack and vandalism which prompted its demolition in 2015.
Earlier this year, ward councillor Adam Hicken called on the council, which owns the land, to clean up the site which is in a poor state.
At the meeting, he also said he and residents in the area were not against the principle of housing on the site but they’d raised concerns that 59 homes would result in a loss of green space and access for people.
Committee chairman Mike Bird said this was only an ‘outline’ application and matters including the number of homes, access and layout will only be considered when a full application is submitted.
Councillor Hicken said: “There are incorrect statements under the principle of development that this site is inaccessible to the public and that the open space is no longer used.
“Contrarily, the site is accessible to the public since before the demolition of the Allens Centre in 2015 and the open spaces regularly used by the members of the public, despite the lack of maintenance by local council.
“The use of the route from Sheringham Drive to Hilton Road further reinforces the point this site is regularly used by members of the public and it is incorrect to suggest this right of way was closed. This is used on a daily basis by dog walkers.”
He added: “Residents and I have no objections to (housing) but it’s just this proposal essentially suggests you remove all of the designation and cram full of housing and we believe there is a better way of doing it.”
Jeevan Thandi, from the planning consultants Lambert Smith Hampton, said: “It’s not to say 59 houses will be built on the site because I know there have been concerns about the density and ‘cramped’ nature of the proposal.
“The purpose of the application is to establish the principle. Appearance, means of access, landscaping, layout and scale will be established later down the line.
“The application represents an opportunity to redevelop a brownfield site in an established residential area which is easily accessible in terms of local services and facilities including importantly bus stops located to the south of the site on Hilton Road.
“Residential development would be both an appropriate and sustainable use for the site and one deemed acceptable by officers.
“This application is the result of many years of discussion within the council around the future and potential use for this site.
“The site has been a hot spot for anti-social behaviour and vandalism for many years and since the demolition of the centre has been a blight on the surrounding streetscape, particularly along Hilton Road.”