Developer tries again to turn Oldbury offices into flats after car park plan refusal

The planning application asks for permission to convert empty storage rooms on the ground floor of Dingle Court in Dingle Street, Oldbury, into two one-bed flats.

Sandwell Council turned down a plan to convert the rooms into three flats earlier this year saying that less than half of the required parking spaces had been included.

The revision application would see ground floor storage rooms converted into two one-bed flats, instead of the previously rejected three, totalling eight flats. Seven parking spaces would be provided as part of a new car park layout included in the application.

Five parking spaces were proposed for nine flats when the previous application was rejected earlier this year. 

A statement included with the new application said the number of spaces was “adequate” given the “moderately” sustainable location. 

Sandwell Council’s planners turned down the move by Vivek Shah of MS Property Midlands in September saying the shortfall in parking spaces would add to problems in the already cramped street.

The planning officers also said the outdoor space provided for the residents was “constrained” and would not provide enough room to store bins or bicycles. 

A report from the council outlining the rejection said: “The external space which serves the development is constrained and would not afford adequate amenity area to accommodate bin and cycle storage as well as sufficient off-street parking provision. 

“The resultant development would thereby be harmful to the residential amenity of the occupiers of the development and surrounding residents due to the potential for increased on-street parking on the surrounding cramped street network where available spaces are already in short supply.”

The former offices were converted into six flats in the 1990s. A decision is expected to be made at the start of next year.