THE GREEN light has been given to tear down ‘awful’ high-rise blocks and build 70 homes on the site of a former school.
Wyre Forest District Council has agreed for the homes to be built on the site of the Coniston House, Windermere House, and Derwent House buildings, as well as on playing fields belonging to the former Sladen Middle School.
Approval has already been granted to demolish the three 12-storey residential blocks on Hurcott Road and it is expected they will be removed by May 2026.
The northern part of the site is unused playing fields, which were previously part of Sladen Middle School before it closed in 2007.
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The proposal would include 26 two-storey houses and 44 flats arranged in four, two-storey blocks.
The application has been submitted by Community Housing Group and would be a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom houses.
It is hoped the development would deliver 100 per cent social rented properties if grant funding from Homes England can be secured.
If the cash cannot be secured, the housing mix would change to 25 per cent affordable.
The carriageway of Medal Close would be extended into the northern part of the site and a new turning head would be constructed at the northern end of the extended road to create a cul-de-sac.
The Champions Way carriageway would also be extended to the southwest.
A total of 96 car parking spaces are proposed – the equivalent of two spaces per house – and there would also be 127 cycle spaces provided.
And planners have said the existing children’s play area would be relocated within the site.
The applicants have agreed to enter into a Section 106 agreement to compensate for the loss of the playing field.
Coun Fran Oborski recommended the application for approval and said the homes were badly needed.
However, she asked why there weren’t any four-bedroom houses on the site, as they were desperately needed in the area.
Planning officers said that four-bedroom houses would require extra parking provision, meaning there would be fewer homes on the site.
Cllr Paul Harrison said he was glad to see the ‘awful’ high-rise blocks go and be replaced with some ‘decent housing.’
Cllr Marcus Hart added: “I understand the applicants would want to secure as many units as possible.
“It is right in the 21st century that we are building this type of property instead of high rise flats, which are completely inappropriate in many ways.”
