Timeline of former Wolverhampton problem pub as latest housing plan for site is approved

Since then there have been two plans to replace the building with homes, both of which have been approved.

It's the latest development in the history of the Wood Street site which has been plagued with crime and anti-social behaviour over the last decade.

May 2014

A man drove his car into a crowd of people outside the pub, leaving one man with serious injuries.

After getting into an argument with a customer he sped into the group of men and attempted to reverse back over one of them. He left his victim with cuts to his knees, a fractured right knee and fractured vertebrae.

The driver was jailed in February 2015.

Late 2014

The pub was boarded up after closing suddenly.

July 2015

The Rookery Tavern was listed as an asset of community value on July 7.

Despite this, the site became overgrown and exhibited signs of anti-social behaviour, fly-tipping and general neglect.

September 2017

A scheme to build four one-bedroom flats, eight two-bedroom flats, and two a pair of two-bedroom semi-detached houses was approved.

Supportive comments from neighbours included: “It will provide much-needed housing at a time when housing is in such short supply," and: "As it is an abandoned pub at the moment it is an area where many youths gather.

“Once homes and flats are in place it won’t be such an eyesore in the area.”

Despite residents backing the scheme, the homes were never built.

September 2021

The Rookery Tavern was due to be sold at auction, with bids starting from the guide of price £299,999. However, days before the auction, the site was sold for an undisclosed amount.

November 2021

The new landowner, Mohammed Adeel, submits plans to build 24 apartments with dedicated parking.

January 2022

Four fire crews were called to the site on the afternoon of Sunday, January 16. A spokesperson for West Midlands Fire Service said it was believed the blaze on the ground floor was started deliberately.

March 2022

Demolition work commenced, with the cooperation of Wolverhampton Council.

Mark Taylor, deputy chief executive of the authority, said: "There were concerns about safety to public health and it has been good to work with a responsible and committed developer to make the site safe and remove the risk of further anti-social behaviour.

"The development of the site, subject to planning approval, will make a huge and positive difference to the street scene and the local community.

"Furthermore, there is the potential to deliver much-needed new homes, creating jobs and boosting the local economy. It is the first step in transforming this troublesome site and creating something that will provide a real uplift for neighbouring residents."

February 2024

New plans for 24 apartment were given the green light.

Landowner MrAdeel of Saltley, Birmingham, who bought the Wood Street site in 2021, was granted approval for the new homes and associated parking.

A statement from Wolverhampton Council's senior planning officer Phillip Walker said: “The former public house had been empty and unused, fire-damaged and subject to antisocial behaviour for a number of years.

"Planning permission for residential redevelopment had previously been granted but didn’t come to fruition at the time.

“The design for the new apartment building is such that it would be positioned forward of the previously established building line of the street and its neighbouring detached and semi-detached properties."