Old warehouse left empty for over a decade could be torn down to make room for flats

A planning application to knock down the former tools shop in Walsall Street, West Bromwich, has been submitted to Sandwell Council and would see a three-storey building with 12 flats built on the land.

The warehouse has been empty since 2013 after Midway Tools moved to Telford.

A statement from architects Highbury Design on behalf of applicant Phoenix Mason said: “The application proposal sets out to improve on the existing site and improve on the local area, making use of a disused site while ensuring good living conditions for everybody.

“The scheme complies with planning policies set out by the local council, meeting local residential need. The scheme has been developed in consideration of the supporting local area ensuring the purpose and function of the design fits within the space.”

The town centre’s Walsall Street could soon see big changes if the planning application is approved – with plans for flats on neighbouring land still up in the air.

An application to demolish a neighbouring church to make way for new flats was revealed in April last year – but a decision has still not been made by Sandwell Council.

The Forever Living Christ Ministries International church would be knocked down and replaced with a new four-storey building totalling 12 two-bed flats.

Sandwell Council is set to sign off on a new cycle route through West Bromwich town centre – with the segregated route starting in Bull Street just 160 metres from the proposed new flats.

West Bromwich town centre is also set for a major regeneration with nearly 400 homes expected to be built on land just metres away in Queens Square alongside nearly 700 more in other parts of the town centre.