More homes planned next to industrial units and huge ‘urban village’

Up to 34 two- and three-bed homes would be built off Friar Park Road in Wednesbury according to a planning application submitted by Keon Homes to Sandwell Council.

The homes would be built next to drinks firm and Irn Bru maker AG Barr’s site in Friar Park Road.

The land is next to the proposed site for the town’s 650-home ‘urban village’ plans.

A statement included with the application said: “The development will introduce a high-quality housing scheme to contribute toward meeting a local need on a brownfield site, use building materials that complement the existing properties that surround the site, provide appropriate parking provision for residents and visitors and provide a mix and range of new homes with an attractive design.”

The plans for the Friar Park ‘urban village’ include up to 650 new homes and the improvements to the nearby Millennium Community Centre in Friar Park Road would use most of the £20 million awarded to Sandwell Council in government ‘levelling up’ money.

Housing developer Persimmon is also planning to build 105 homes on fields next to the estate’s High Point Academy.

The move comes despite a stark shortage of green space for youngsters across the borough. Government body Sport England, which is responsible for protecting playing fields, has objected over concerns that an earlier promise made by the housing firm in a previous application to provide £300,000 to improve facilities in Sandwell would not be part of any new plan. No affordable housing would be built as part of the move.

The move to build more homes in Friar Park comes after a planning application to demolish the former Friar Park Inn in Crankhall Lane, Wednesbury and replace it with 14 new flats and a shop.

The three-storey building includes space for a ground floor shop and 35 parking spaces would also be built according to the application submitted by developer SEP Properties. to Sandwell Council.

The pub was sold to SEP Properties for £495,000 in 2022 and the developer put forward plans to demolish the former pub shortly after.