Council rejects move to replace 100-year-old Bearwood garden shop with new takeaway
A council has turned down plans to replace a 100-year-old garden shop with a new takeaway.
Sandwell Council has rejected plans to convert part of the former Webb’s of Bearwood garden shop in Three Shires Oak Road, Bearwood, Smethwick, into a new takeaway.
Sandwell Council said it was against opening new takeaways next to residential properties and the venture would add to parking problems in Bearwood.
The garden shop closed in June after 104 years in business following the retirement of owners Pauline and Steve Davis.
The shop first opened in 1921, when Pauline’s grandfather, Oliver John Webb, opened it, and it was passed down through five generations.
The work proposed in the takeaway application by Umar Aziz included a front extension, new shopfront and new metal shutters.
The planned opening hours were 11am to 11.30pm every day and the takeaway would have created eight jobs according to the application.
The council said it went against its policy that no new takeaways should be built on the ground floor if it’s next door to existing residential properties.
A report outlining the decision said: “As a result, accounting the amenity of the area with particular regard to the residential use next door along the eastern side elevation; the proposed opening hours, impact of noise, disturbance, smell and litter, traffic generation and parking problems would be considered to adversely impact the residential dwelling next door and would not comply with [policy].
“Therefore, from a policy perspective, although there are no issues with the proposed retail elements, the application would fail to meet the guidance in the hot food takeaway [planning document] and the principle of development would not be acceptable.”
The new takeaway would need at least three car parking spaces, the council added.
“Current on-street parking provision is also used by existing businesses and residential properties, therefore the potential increase in vehicle trips and parking accumulation is a concern for highways and its impact on residential amenity,” the report continued.
“There are also no local public car parks that can be utilised. As a result, the potential highway concerns for the level of development proposed would not be acceptable in regard to highway safety and its impact on the existing highway network.”
