Businesses safe as council plans shop land sell off

Dudley Council says businesses are safe despite plans for the possible sale of the land they are built on.

Since January the authority’s top officers have given the green light for the possible disposal of several sites after review by its Corporate Landlord Services department.

There can be a number of reasons for disposal of sites including releasing the council from ongoing liabilities or where an opportunity to maximise development is identified.

The shop units on the land are sold as going concerns with, in some cases, lengthy leases in place and the council’s notes on decisions to investigate disposal stress ‘there are no plans to close any shops’.

Among the sites earmarked for disposal since the new year is the former Broadstone public house centre on Two Gates Lane in Cradley which is now a convenience store.

Notes on the decision to sell off the land said: “The lease for the above council owned shop and accommodation included has an end date of 06/09/2071. 

“This is a disposal of a ground lease. The building on site will only revert to the landlord at the end of the lease.” 

Another site assessed for possible sale is at Queensway in Wollescote; notes with the decision, said: “The shops, accommodation above, garages, access way and surrounding land be declared surplus to requirements by way of sale or lease.

“If sold, these commercial units would be offered as ongoing concerns, with existing tenants remaining in place, many of which hold long-term leases.”

A row of shops between 91 and 97 on The Broadway in Norton, Stourbridge, are also earmarked for disposal.

Notes with the decision said: “A number of shop units and maisonettes in this property have already been disposed of and similar disposals will be following established precedent.” 

Other sites with commercial premises where council officers have been asked to investigate land disposal in the last five months include 95 and 97 Priory Road, Dudley, 139 Green Park Road, Dudley, 1 and 2 Wood Road, Lower Gornal and 47-35 Central Drive, Gornal Wood.