Walsall community fighting to save pub face two-year delay in listing application

A community group fighting to save a historic Caldmore pub may have to wait two years for a local listing application decision.

The application to have the White Lion pub on Sandwell Street locally listed was submitted in August 2024.

A local listing does not grant the same protections as a national listing would, but would mean the building’s character would be considered in any future planning application.

At the time, it was confirmed to the Friends of the White Lion group that the application would be reported to the planning committee ‘in the near future’.

But, until now, the application is yet to be scheduled.

Chair of the group, Mark Whitehouse, said: “If it gets a local listing it adds an extra layer of protection. It just strengthens our argument that it is of importance.

“It can be overruled by the planning committee, but it’s a moral argument we want to win. It’s local heritage and it should be valued.

“We received confirmation that the listing had been proposed and was awaiting an opportunity for the planning committee to consider it.

“Since then we’ve heard nothing and despite approaches to other planning officers. We have received no indication about the current status of the application.”

Mark said he fears the current owners, 88 Capital Investments Ltd, will let the building fall into dilapidation, so planners have no choice but to allow redevelopment.

Responding to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Walsall Council said a report on the pub will be presented to the planning committee ‘this summer’.

Friends of the White Lion have been battling for over five years to bring the pub back into community use.

It has been put up for auction on two occasions and later withdrawn since it closed to the public in 2020.

In February 2025, the campaign group was successful in getting the pub awarded Asset of Community Value in a U-turn victory.

Initially, Walsall Council had refused the application but changed its position after the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) criticised the decision as ‘perverse’.

Mark said: “Our dream is that the building will be brought back into use.

“Part of that use would be a pub, the rest could be used for other purposes. One bar can’t sustain a massive building like that.

“Upstairs could be commercial, offices or living accommodation to drive extra income. It would be a lot more viable than letting it go derelict.

“There’s a strong story when local people put themselves on the line for it. If a building like this doesn’t have a local group who’s pushing for it, it goes by the wayside.

“We’re still here after five years, and we’ll be here in five years’ time. We won’t let it go without a struggle. They won’t be able to slip it through quietly at committee.

“If nothing happens, we’ll still shout about that. The worst case is they let it fall into disrepair and the council says no one is interested in this building so a developer can do what they want to it.”

A spokesperson for Walsall Council said: “The White Lion Public House has been assessed by independent heritage consultants as part of the Black Country-wide Local List project, completed in 2021/22. A report on the findings will be presented to the planning committee this summer.”