Dudley Council has rejected an application for six new flats adjacent to a One Stop convenience store at a busy junction in Stourbridge. The proposal involved a three-storey extension to the existing building on Norton Road, including parking for six vehicles and landscaping.
Site Details
The development was planned for an unkempt, fenced-off piece of land. The current building houses a store, two flats, and a fish and chip shop.
Council Decision
Michael Brereton, Dudley's director of development and regulation, stated: "The proposed development, by virtue of its siting, scale, massing and poor design, would result in an overly dominant and visually intrusive form of development that fails to respect the character, appearance of the host building and surrounding area." He added that the extension would overwhelm the existing building, identified as a non-designated heritage asset, detracting from the Area of High Historic Townscape Value.
Previous Refusals
Two earlier applications for similar extensions in 2011 were refused, with a 2012 appeal dismissed by the Planning Inspectorate. In 2021, plans for an eight-flat block on the same site were also refused, and a subsequent appeal was dismissed in 2022. Council planners considered these inspectorate conclusions in their latest decision.
Applicant's Argument
J Mason Associates, supporting the application, said: "The proposed apartments are designed to meet or exceed relevant qualitative standards... The design approach is consistent with national space standards and good practice guidance." They argued the development would make efficient use of a mixed-use site, reducing pressure on greenfield land and supporting compact, walkable communities.
For more planning applications and public notices, visit the Public Notices Portal.
