Supermarket giant Sainsbury's is making a third attempt to build a new convenience store on the car park of a popular Sutton Coldfield pub, hoping that recent changes to national planning policy will finally see the project approved.
A Persistent Plan for a Local Store
A fresh planning application has been formally submitted to Walsall Council to construct a Sainsbury's local on the site of the Farmer John's pub car park on Aldridge Road in Streetly. This marks the third time the retailer has tried to get the scheme passed, with previous applications being rejected in 2022 and again after an appeal in 2024.
The core of the new proposal remains similar: a single-storey shop would be built on a section of the pub's existing car park, which is considered oversized for the establishment's needs. Sainsbury's argues the development would bring a much-needed locally-focused convenience store and create the equivalent of 20 full-time jobs.
What the New Store Would Involve
The planned store would have a gross internal area of 372 square metres and feature dark grey fascias. If approved, it would occupy almost half of the current 102-space car park.
The net loss of parking spaces would be 27 overall. Sainsbury's would take 45% of the land for its shop, service area, and a dedicated 19-space car park which will include two disabled bays and one electric vehicle charging point. Six cycle spaces are also planned. The Farmer John's pub would retain 56 parking spaces, including two disabled bays. Both the pub and the shop would share the same entrance and exit from Aldridge Road.
Overcoming Past Planning Hurdles
The principal reason for the previous refusals was the site's location within the West Midlands Green Belt. Councillors and a government planning inspector ruled that the development was "inappropriate" and caused harm to the Green Belt's openness and character.
However, Sainsbury's and its planning consultants, Alder King, believe the goalposts have moved. They point to a revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) published in December 2024, which introduces the concept of 'grey belt' land. This term refers to land within the green belt that has been previously developed, potentially opening it up for future development.
A supporting 'Green Belt Statement' from Ground Control argues that the Farmer John's pub site and an adjacent scout hut are already "urbanised" and should be considered an extension of the urban area of Streetly. The new framework states that development on such previously developed land is "not inappropriate" if it does not cause "substantial harm to the openness of the Green Belt".
The application, registered on November 18 with a target decision date of January 12, will test this new national policy at a local level, setting a significant precedent for similar sites.
