Decision to be made on flattening factories for homes

A decision is set to be made on plans to demolish a row of old factories in Cradley Heath for nearly 100 new homes.

Several industrial and commercial buildings at the former F. & L. Smout & Sons site in Woods Lane, Cradley Heath, would be flattened and replaced with a mix of 82 new homes and 15 flats.

The application by Mark Grady from Liberty Developments said half of the buildings on the site, which sits next to Cradley Heath train station, are empty with many in a state of disrepair.

Sandwell Council’s planning committee meets on June 10 with a recommendation the application is approved.

The council said: “The design of the development is of good quality and proposes a notable number of affordable homes which, on balance, offsets the loss of non-designated heritage assets and the partial loss of land designated as a site of local importance for nature conservation.”

Plans for more than 350 homes on the majority of the Woods Lane and Macarthur Road site were officially put forward in 2015 having been developed for more than five years.

A number of other factories in Woods Lane were demolished after Sandwell Council approved plans for 135 new homes in 2019. 

Another application to build 34 homes on the corner of Woods Lane and Cradley Road was then approved in 2022.

A statement included with the application said: “Across the site BM3 are proposing 98 new dwellings featuring a mix of two and three-bed houses as well as 15 apartments consisting of two-storey split level apartments and two-storey duplex apartments. 

“The site currently contains a number of industrial and commercial buildings, such as the Howells Patent Glazing and the Griffin Woodhouse Chain Proofing Building. 

“The Proving House and Office – locally listed buildings – are still occupied and in use but most of the other buildings on the Griffin Woodhouse site are no longer operational and in poor repair. 

“Due to the number of derelict and unoccupied buildings on site, the intention is to replace this industrial site with a residential development that has an aesthetic that gives it a distinct sense of place and links the scheme to the history of the site, whilst also creating a vibrant neighbourhood to live in.”