DUDLEY Council's November planning decisions include the refusal of plans for an Asda and Starbucks on the site of the former House and Haven showroom in Halesowen.

Developers already have permission to demolish the existing building on Mucklow Hill, which is recognised on the Historic Environment Record for its distinctive 1950s design.

But plans to build and Asda store and Starbucks drive-thru in its place were thrown out. 

The plan had attracted strong opposition from people in the area and planners also decided the new buildings failed to meet good design principles.

Highway safety concerns and those about noise and light pollution were also given as reasons for refusal.

Also in November:

An abandoned Baptist chapel in Sedgley looks set to be demolished to make way for a detached two-storey house.

Halesowen News: The former chapel will be flattenedThe former chapel will be flattened (Image: Google)

The chapel on The Ridgeway was already subject to permission for demolition after it became surplus to requirements of global Baptists and was too small for any other community use.

Dudley Council has now granted outline permission for the building to be replaced by a house.

Permission was granted to allow the former Elephant and Castle pub on Cradley Road, Netherton, to be converted into a private home.

Changes to the building will include a first-floor extension, a new boundary wall, fencing and gates to create a five-bedroom home.

A bid to convert the former Dog and Lamp Post pub in Brierley Hill into flats was thrown out by Dudley Council planners.

Halesowen News: The pub in Brierley Hill

The pub on Dudley Road, was earmarked to be converted into three apartments along with a new building to create a further two dwellings.

Planners decided the proposed development failed to meet design and minimum space standards plus it would cause traffic and parking problems.

A site in Delph Lane, Brierley Hill was given the go-ahead as a residential site for up to four caravans.

Planners concluded the site had been occupied for more than ten years and overruled an objection from a resident of Withymoor Village who said access to the site was unsuitable and privacy of properties in the boundary of the site would be affected.

Halesowen News: The former Graham's Place pub in Wollaston The former Graham's Place pub in Wollaston (Image: Google)

The former Cottage Spring pub in Wollaston, Stourbridge, looks set for a new lease of life as a retail bakery after the council gave permission for a change of use.

The Bridgnorth Road building which dates in part to the nineteenth century closed as a pub, then known as Graham’s place, in 2021 and has been vacant ever since.

Planners imposed a condition that the building should only open to the public between 7.30am and 5pm.