Row over height of new Wolverhampton flats to replace garage in Castle Street

City of Wolverhampton Council’s planners backed a move to demolish a garage in the city centre’s Castle Street and replace it with new flats but stood firm over the building’s height – saying a proposed three-storey plan was too tall.

Developer AAJ Property Management submitted two planning applications at the same time—one asking for permission to build a three-storey block with six flats and another for a two-storey building with four flats. The council opted for the smaller building.

Despite approving a two-storey block, an appeal has now been made to the government’s planning inspector – who has the power to overrule the council – in a bid to get the decision overturned.

Earlier this year, City of Wolverhampton Council said a three-storey building in Castle Street would be overbearing and “out of place” and would be “competing” with the listed buildings in Queen Street.

The council’s planners added that some of the details in the work – particularly the windows – would be “out of character” and not match neighbouring buildings.

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AAJ Property Management’s statement included with the application said the work would be a “significant improvement” for the area, but the council disagreed.

“We believe the proposals provide an exciting opportunity to remove a detrimental building within the conservation area and replace it with a more traditionally designed and characterful building, based on historic precedent,” it said.

The council’s planners welcomed the two-storey plans saying the size of the ‘Georgian-inspired’ building would make a “positive contribution” and a “more active frontage.”

“The two-storey height will not harm the setting of the listed buildings along Queen Street, including 47 Queen Street as historically the precedent for a two-storey building here has been evidenced and it would not appear out of character when viewed within the context of other buildings in close proximity to the site,” the council said in a report outlining its decision.

The offices were last used by a solicitor firm several years ago. West Midlands law firm Challinors was plunged into administration in 2013 after it was revealed the struggling business had £11m in debts forcing dozens to lose their jobs.

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The council approved an application to convert the grade II listed building into a nine-room house of multiple occupation (HMO) in 2018. At the time, the application said the building was “dated and below average” and there were “signs that [the] deterioration was beginning to worsen.” The conversion promised to “breathe new life into the rundown property.”

A new plan for nine bedsits was then approved in 2020.