Former Black Country church to become school despite concerns

Providence Methodist Church, Colley Orchard, closed its doors in November 2024 and operators applied to Dudley Council for a certificate of lawful development for the building to be used as a school for children aged four to 18.

The certificate has been granted despite objections that the application lacked detail about how the school would operate.

Cllr Ryan Priest said: “The description refers simply to a day school for primary and or secondary age pupils. That leaves a wide spectrum of possibilities.

“There is no indication of anticipated pupil numbers, class sizes, staffing levels, hours of operation or whether the intention is for a full time mainstream school.

“There should be greater transparency around pupil numbers, age range and anticipated traffic movements so that the impact on local residents and infrastructure can be properly understood.”

A former church in Quarry Bank is also set for a new lease of life as a day nursery for up to 40 children after gaining permission from council planners.

The Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter Day Saints on Bagleys Road has been disused for three years.

An application for a change of use has been granted despite concerns from residents of neighbouring properties about issues including extra traffic and parking problems, bright floodlighting and use at weekends.

In a report on the application, council planning officers said: “There would be no unacceptable harm to neighbouring properties and concerns relating to excess noise would be reasonably addressed through a condition restricting hours of operation.

“The development also raises no substantial concerns in relation to parking and highway safety.”

Council planners have also granted permission for a vacant storage building on Maple Tree Lane, Cradley, to be converted to a retail unit.

The building will be developed as a branch of The Pet Collective and be open 9am to 5pm Monday to Saturday.