Plans to redevelop land in the town, blighted by an 'eyesore' rubbish mound for years, have been objected to by Brierley Hill Civic Society.

Proposals for the former Refuse Derived Fuel site have been submitted to Dudley Council as the last of the piles of rubbish are cleared. Architects aim to build 39 new homes on the site.

However, fears have been raised about the scheme, with ward councillor Rachel Harris saying ‘there is already a lot of concern about it’. She added:

“We’re worried the plans would impact on both the skyline and trade for the High Street, because it takes most of the car park away. We already have parking and congestion problems in that area which I believe puts people off coming to the town centre.

"Considering it’s a conservation area it has no special features. It’s exactly the same as you could see in any other town centre in any other part of the country.”

A seven-month operation to clear waste which had been left to pile up in Moor Street is nearly complete. At one time rubbish dumped at the site towered almost 20ft high. It developed into a seven-year long saga as residents and councillors were left frustrated in their battle to have it shifted.

The new scheme has been submitted by developers Grainrent Ltd. In a planning statement the firm said the project ‘will deliver a total of 39 dwellings across an area of 0.67 hectares’, adding:

“The development will comprise of both market and affordable dwellings, with a mix of apartment sizes and maisonettes to accommodate a mix of properties across the site, including 20 one-bed flats and 19 three-bed maisonettes/apartments.”

The application says 45 car parking spaces will be provided, while ‘the residential redevelopment of the western part of the Moor Street Shopping Centre car park will allow for the retention of 60 spaces’.