Work begins turning pub near Dudley into shops and flats

Work has begun stripping out a Black Country pub ahead of plans to convert it into a mini-shopping parade.

The Spills Meadow in Upper Gornal finally closed this year, two years after permission was granted to extend the building and convert it into two shop units, with flats above.

Crews have now finally arrived on site in Kent Street to begin stripping the building out.

The scheme has been subject to a lengthy planning process, with objections to both the scale of the scheme and concerns about graves beneath the site.

Developer 90 Squared had originally wanted to build three shops on the site, extending the site to cover 6,200 sq ft, with three flats above and 21 parking spaces.

But the plans attracted objections, and the company agreed to scale back the development to just two retail units covering 5,170 sq ft.

One resident voiced concerns that a burial ground would be disturbed.

He said a small area of land, enclosed by a brick wall, was a burial crypt belonging to the former Kent Street Methodist Church, which was demolished in 1971.

"The site also includes an old graveyard which can never be built on," he said, adding that he believed the plans may contravene the Burial Act.

"Further to all this, we already have a perfectly respectable shopping precinct with small businesses that have been there for generations, supporting the local community," he said.

He said the loss of pubs meant the “heart of the community was being ripped out”.

A second objector also expressed concerns about the burial site.

Another resident said more parking may be necessary if in future one of the shop units was converted to a restaurant.

Concerns about the burial ground prompted the developer to revise the plans, removing proposed electric vehicle charging points from the crypt wall.

The pub opened in July 1975 but struggled to attract customers in recent years, resulting in its closure in 2022.

It was put up for sale by real estate agent Christie & Co but attracted just three offers, all of them for retail use.

The following year the pub was sold by Marston’s to 90 Squared, but failed to attract a tenant.

Mike Carr, speaking for the developer, said: "None of the local and regional pub companies showed any interest, or see a way to make the pub profitable again, given the demographic locally has massively changed and the local pub is no longer a focal point in this location.

"The applicants then asked the previous landlady to keep the pub functioning ­– whilst losing money – so as to ensure site and building security.

"Site marketing has been carried out and this confirmed that there is no reasonable way to make the pub profitable again.

"While the development would result in the loss of a community asset, this would be replaced by a range of sustainably located retail premises that would ensure Kent Street would be enhanced and continue to provide a focal point for the community."

The company was initially granted permission, subject to the shops not opening until 7am, but Dudley Council planners agreed to allow the opening time to be brought forward to 6am.