Plans have been put forward for a second time to turn two vacant 1970s garage blocks in Streetly into eight apartments. The latest application for the Boundary Court garages, rear of 78 and 80 Hundred Acre Road, is nearly identical to the last one which was refused by Walsall Council in June 2023.
Applicant Starcrest Properties Ltd wants to demolish the existing garages and replace them with four one bedroom apartments, four two bedroom apartments, bicycle store and ten car parking spaces. Each flat will have an open-plan living, dining and kitchen space, bathroom, storage and toilet, plus a balcony or terrace to the front of the building with a communal garden at the rear.
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The proposed elevations for the apartment block on Laneside Avenue, Streetly
(Image: PJ Planning / Whitebox Architecture + Design / Starcrest Properties Ltd)
In the application it says the existing garages are unsuitable for modern cars and have fallen into disrepair since becoming vacant. Over the years they have become a target for anti-social behaviour.
Walsall Council refused the application last time stating that the size, scale and materials would be overbearing in the street scene, would cause privacy issues for neighbours due to the front-facing balconies, that there was insufficient outdoor areas for occupants, insufficient information about noise from nearby shops and the proximity to the nearby day nursery leading to a reduction in light.
However a detailed report has been submitted with the latest application addressing each of the reasons for refusal. The report challenges that the design’s scale, mass, and materials are incompatible with the local character, along with the privacy and amenity concerns and provides adjustments made to mitigate any issues.
The report disputes the refusal reasons regarding sunlight and noise studies, and argues that the development is contextually appropriate and meets regulatory standards.