New plans for former 100-year-old Black Country garden shop
Prime-Al Builders has applied to convert the former Webb’s of Bearwood garden shop in Three Shires Oak Road, Bearwood, Smethwick into two new flats.
A century-old former garden shop could soon be converted into more flats.
Prime-Al Builders has applied to convert the former Webb’s of Bearwood garden shop in Three Shires Oak Road, Bearwood, Smethwick into two new flats.
Another part of the shop, which closed in June 2025, had been converted into a new flat by Prime-Al Builders without planning permission from Sandwell Council which the authority has now approved retrospectively.
A new application asking for permission to convert the main shop into two new flats has now been submitted to Sandwell Council.
Sandwell Council had rejected the application to convert the shop into a one-bed flat earlier this year saying a proposed extension did not fall within permitted development rights.
The authority’s planners approved a subsequent planning application saying: “No concerns are raised regarding the impact of the rear extension on adjacent properties.
“The removal of the front bay has made little difference to the streetscene and the render replaces blown brickwork which has improved the external appearance of the building.”
A statement included with the application said: “Originally a flower shop at ground level and a flat above is now to be converted to a flat to the ground floor and retaining the existing first floor flat.
“In this context the application proposal is modest in scale and sympathetic to the original building.”
The garden shop closed in 2025 after 104 years in business following the retirement of owners Pauline and Steve Davis.
The shop first opened in 1921 by Pauline’s grandfather Oliver John Webb and was passed down through five generations.
Sandwell Council has previously rejected plans to convert a separate part of the former garden shop into a takeaway over concerns it would add to traffic and parking problems in Bearwood.
The council said it also went against its policy prohibiting new takeaways from opening next to residential properties.
You can find out more about planning applications and planned roadworks where you live by visiting publicnoticeportal.uk/express-and-star
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