A developer who tore down a former doctor's surgery without permission is now poised to get the green light to build a block of flats on the same site in Great Barr.
From Surgery to Sudden Demolition
The saga centres on Newton House on Newton Road. Sandwell Council had granted permission in 2024 to convert the empty surgery into eight flats, involving extensions and a loft conversion. The building had been vacant since private healthcare provider Summerfield Heath went into administration in 2023.
However, when work began in June this year, the entire building was demolished. The developer cited a structural engineer's report deeming it unsafe, but crucially, they did not have council consent for the demolition.
Planning Permission Null and Void
This unauthorised action had immediate consequences. In August, the council informed the developer that the original planning consent for the eight flats was cancelled, or 'null and void', because the building it related to no longer existed.
This forced the submission of a brand new application for a purpose-built block of eight flats on the now-cleared site. A statement with the application argued that "every reasonable and practicable effort" was made to follow the original plans, but "interrelated structural deficiencies" made full demolition necessary.
Committee Set to Approve Despite Objections
Sandwell Council's planning committee meets on January 7 to make a decision. A report from the council's own planning officers is recommending approval.
The proposal has not been without local opposition. Ten objections were lodged during public consultation, with concerns focusing on:
- Potential exacerbation of existing parking problems.
- The design being "out of character" for the area.
- Fears the site is being "overdeveloped".
However, the planning officer's report rebuts these points. It states the former surgery would have generated more daily traffic from patients, staff, and deliveries. It also contends the design, with materials chosen to complement the area, would be an improvement, saying: "the development would significantly improve this prominent corner frontage from the dated previous doctor's surgery that had limited architectural merit."
The officer also noted that the footprint of the proposed new building is essentially identical to the old surgery, aside from some gable features, and that the surrounding area already contains a mix of houses and flats.
