A used car dealership, West Midlands Cars, operating illegally in Franchise Street, Wednesbury, is appealing Sandwell Council’s decision to reject its planning application. The council had previously deemed the dealership “inappropriate” and detrimental to the local residential area.
West Midlands Cars opened without planning permission in 2022, leading to numerous complaints regarding overcrowded car storage, with vehicles spilling onto residential streets and a neighbouring pub’s former car park.
In June 2023, Sandwell Council rejected the dealership’s application for formalisation, citing its negative impact on residents and the highway network. The council’s report highlighted that the dealership’s activity was incompatible with the predominantly residential locality.
Council inspections revealed that the site was significantly overcrowded with vehicles, exceeding the layout plans submitted with the application. Vehicles were also parked on the street and the former Forge Tavern pub car park, causing congestion and obstructing visibility for drivers.
The council received multiple complaints from residents about on-street parking issues, exacerbated by the dealership’s operations. Franchise Street, characterised by Victorian terraced properties, relies heavily on on-street parking, which the dealership’s activity severely impacts.
The dealership’s appeal comes as plans to convert the neighbouring former Forge Tavern into an eight-bed house of multiple occupation (HMO) have been revived. Previous attempts to repurpose the pub, including proposals for an Islamic tuition centre and community centre, were rejected by the council due to parking concerns.
An earlier HMO conversion plan, approved in 2017, was not executed, and the application has now been resubmitted.
The outcome of the appeal will determine whether the car dealership can continue its operations, despite the council’s concerns regarding its impact on the local community.
Source: Express and Star