A long-awaited decision on the future of a derelict Black Country pub, which was found to have been partially converted into flats without permission, is set to be made next week.
Deferred Decision and Unauthorised Conversion
The City of Wolverhampton Council's planning committee will meet on January 20 to rule on an application for the former Royal Oak pub on New Street, Portobello. The site, on the border of Wolverhampton and Willenhall, has been vacant since 2022, becoming a magnet for fly-tipping, vandalism and rats.
A ruling was initially due in September last year but was deferred after a shocking discovery. During a site visit, council planning officers found that the pub's first floor, subject to a separate application for a five-bed HMO, had already been converted into seven self-contained flats without any planning consent.
The applicant, Bye To Let Ltd, represented by Kuldip Singh Bansal from Manchester, subsequently amended their proposals. The revised plan seeks permission to reopen the ground floor as an Indian bar and grill under a signed 15-year lease, with the first floor now proposed for three one-bedroom flats instead of the illegal seven.
Officers Recommend Approval for Amended Plans
A council report prepared for the committee recommends approval. It states the scheme would bring the locally listed building back into use, ending its vacancy and associated anti-social behaviour.
The report acknowledges that the unauthorised flats, which a recent inspection confirmed are unoccupied, represent "poor design due to substandard size and amenity provision." The applicant has been advised that enforcement action would be taken against their occupation.
However, the amended proposal for three policy-compliant flats is seen as addressing these core concerns. The council noted that ground floor refurbishment works fall under permitted development rights, but the first-floor conversion definitively required permission.
"The proposed single-storey extensions are modest and in keeping with the building’s character and surroundings," the officers' report adds. It also concludes the three flats would provide satisfactory living conditions and are unlikely to negatively impact neighbours or contribute to crime.
Objections and Financial Viability
Despite the officer recommendation, the application has faced local objections. Concerns were initially raised about a now-scrapped hand car wash element and the potential HMO. Objectors described the empty pub as an "eyesore" that had attracted graffiti and vermin.
The applicant's submission argues that the income from the first-floor flats is "essential to ensure the pub’s financial viability." The flats would be privately let, supporting the operation of the proposed Indian bar and grill.
The planning committee's decision on January 20 will finally determine whether this contentious site can be revived for community use or remain a blight on the neighbourhood.
