Dudley car wash will have to demolish building erected without permission
A car wash on Shell Corner near Blackheath will have to demolish a building which was put up without permission.
Hot Wheelz Car Wash Ltd was served with an enforcement notice from Dudley Council ordering the company to remove the building and replace a section of wall.
The company, on Belgrave Road, appealed to the Planning Inspectorate against the notice but their pleas were rejected.
The company argued their alterations would be allowed without planning permission under a scheme called permitted development.
The Inspectorate found both the metal structure on the site and the demolition of part of a boundary wall had an impact on the appearance of the area.
The Inspectorate’s report on its decision said: “The building itself, by reason of its scale, massing, and utilitarian appearance, creates a discordant feature within the street scene.
“Its stark industrial form fails to assimilate with the established pattern of development, which is characterised by modest brick-built properties with traditional detailing, and its prominent corner position amplifies the harm caused.
“Although the section of wall removed is relatively limited in size in terms of its entire length, its partial removal with the loss of the pillar have diminished the integrity of the historic boundary treatment.
“Furthermore, the resulting state of disrepair further detracts from its visual quality and historic value.”
Hot Wheelz suffered another blow after a separate appeal against a change of use enforcement notice was also rejected.
The company failed to get planning permission to operate the business on the site and in 2024 was ordered by the council to cease operations including valeting, vehicle maintenance, repairs and sound system installation.
The company claimed it had not been made aware of the enforcement notice however the Inspectorate concluded the notice was served correctly.
The Inspectorate also found the business would generate unacceptable levels of noise and traffic related to the site would be a problem.
The inspector said: “I am not satisfied that the effects of noise and disturbance from the unauthorised use does not cause material harm to the living conditions of those occupying nearby residential properties, and this may well extend to some commercial and retails occupiers in the vicinity.
“I cannot be satisfied that the traffic generated by the business would not have an unacceptable impact on the local highway network in this location, or that the site has safe and adequate access arrangements and that the impacts of the development on highway safety can be mitigated.”
