Decision to convert Dudley house into flats delayed after highway safety concerns

At a meeting on June 6, Dudley Council’s planning committee considered an application for alterations to a house which would provide four one-bedroom flats.

The proposal would see a property on Himley Road in Lower Gornal have an extension to create extra space and the removal of a flat roof extension which had been added without planning permission.

Objector John Newey told councillors he was concerned about the size of the parking area at the rear of the building and that there was not enough room for vehicles to manoeuvre within the site.

Mr Newey said: “There is a major risk to highways safety if that planning application goes ahead.

“The only way to access the highway is to reverse out, creating serious danger to an already very busy and overused road.”

Cllr Bryn Challenor wondered why nothing had been done about the unauthorised extension which was subject of an enforcement notice in 2021 and a refused planning application in 2022.

Cllr Challenor said: “The plan was refused in 2022, it beggars belief why we have done nothing on that.”

The addition of four parking spaces also concerned councillors who thought they were too small.

Cllr Challenor added standard parking space sizes are 2.5m by 5.3m and in closed courtyards there should be a minimum area for turning.

He said he could not see on drawings of the project that standards had been met.

Council officers, who recommended approval of the plans, said sometimes smaller parking spaces were accepted and highways officers concluded the development would not have a significant adverse impact on safety.

The committee was not convinced and voted unanimously to defer a decision on the proposal to allow time for more information to be provided on their concerns.