Decision to be made on re-opening empty Wolverhampton pub after flats were built without permission

City of Wolverhampton Council’s planning committee was supposed to decide on an application for the former Royal Oak pub in New Street, Portobello, Wolverhampton, in September last year but a ruling was deferred after it was discovered part of the pub had already been converted into flats without permission.

The revised planning application would see the pub re-open with the first floor converted into three one-bed flats.

The committee meets again on January 20 to decide on the application.

The pub, on the border of Wolverhampton and Willenhall, has been closed since 2022 and has attracted fly-tipping, rats and vandalism while empty.

Ahead of last year’s meeting, the council’s planning officers found during a visit that the pub’s first floor, which was part of a planning application to convert into a five room house of multiple occupation (HMO), had already been converted into seven self-contained flats.

The applicant Bye To Let Ltd said the already completed work and changes to the application would form amended plans and asked to meet to discuss the proposals at a later date.

As a result, a decision on the application was deferred and the application amended.

The application said a 15-year lease had been signed to convert the pub into an Indian bar and grill and the flats would be privately let. The first-floor flats were “essential to ensure the pub’s financial viability,” it added.

A report by the council’s planning officers recommended the application by Kuldip Singh Bansal from Manchester-based Bye to Let Ltd should be approved.

“The proposals would bring the Royal Oak public house, a valued community facility and locally listed building, back into use after being vacant since 2022 and subject to anti-social behaviour,” it said.

“The proposed single-storey extensions are modest and in keeping with the building’s character and surroundings.

“The amended proposal for three first-floor apartments provides satisfactory living conditions, complies with national minimum space standards, and is unlikely to cause unacceptable impacts on neighbour amenity or contribute significantly to crime or antisocial behaviour.”

The planning application had originally included a hand car wash but this element was later scrapped.

In a report published ahead of next week’s meeting, the council said it had recently inspected the pub and found the unauthorised flats were not occupied.

“The ground floor refurbishment works, including external window replacements, fall within permitted development rights and do not require planning permission,” the council said. “No extension works have been carried out.

“However, seven flats were created at first floor level without consent. These units constitute poor design due to substandard size and amenity provision, and the applicant has been advised that planning enforcement action would likely be taken against their occupation.

“The amended proposal now seeks permission for three policy compliant flats, which in principle addresses these concerns.”

Objections were received against the plan with concerns raised about the now shelved hand car wash and the potential HMO.

The objections said the former pub had attracted “graffiti, vermin and fly-tipping” and was an eyesore.