Watch: The 12 Dudley bungalows set to be demolished after being given new roofs just five years ago

A row of 12 council-owned bungalows overlooking a popular Dudley park is set to be demolished – despite being fitted with new roofs just five years ago.

The post-war properties, situated in Paradise and Prospect Row next to Buffery Park, have been earmarked for demolition by Dudley Council after being deemed too expensive to repair.

The homes, believed to date back to the early 1950s, have been left empty after residents raised concerns about cracks appearing in the walls.

Further investigations identified problems including tree roots, poor ground conditions and design faults, while there are also fears the site could be affected by historic mineworkings.

The plans involve 10 terraced bungalows in Paradise and two semi-detached properties on the corner of Prospect Row.

Despite the structural concerns, an independent engineer declared the properties safe and habitable, although inspections every three months were recommended.

Dudley Council's director of housing, Kathy Jones, said carrying out the necessary repairs would be costly and would only extend the lives of the buildings for a limited period.

The bungalows were fitted with new roofs in 2021, while the authority also spent around £60,000 on piling work at one of the properties.

Demolishing the homes is expected to cost approximately £150,000, although the council anticipates recovering the money through the eventual sale of the land.

Once demolished, the site will be levelled and grassed over, with no immediate plans for redevelopment.

The council has submitted a prior notification application to determine whether the demolition can proceed without formal planning permission.

The proposals are now awaiting consideration by planners.