New Stourbridge hotel gets councillors' go-ahead (From Stourbridge News)

New Stourbridge hotel gets councillors' go-ahead

3:43pm Tuesday 19th February 2013 in News

A MAJOR hotel development which will create 65 new jobs in Stourbridge has been given the go-ahead by Dudley planners.

The Premier Inn group were given permission for an 80 bedroom hotel, 122 space car park and pub/restaurant on Birmingham Street next the River Stour.

The hotel, across the river from the council's civic amenity site, will be built on a brownfield site formerly occupied by Cox Hire Ltd.

Members of Dudley's development control committee voted to approve the application after council planning officers gave their blessing to the scheme.

In their report for the committee, planners said: "The proposed development would provide regeneration benefits and apply the principles of good urban design whilst making a positive contribution to the character of the area."

Where the site borders the River Stour, a ten metre buffer zone will be developed containing trees, wildflowers, a pond plus bird and bat boxes which councillors agreed would provide a variety of habitats for wildlife.

Councillors rejected an objection from a resident who claimed the four-story hotel would overshadow surrounding buildings.

The authority also received a letter of objection during the consultation process claiming the new buildings were not suited to the historic townscape of the area however council planners determined the project would contribute to the enhancement of the built environment.

• Meanwhile, councillors have also approved plans from Morrisons to almost double the size of the supermarket in Kingswinford.

The site on Stallings Lane, next to the Charterfield shopping centre, currently has a Morrisons store with a sales area of 2,024 square metres.

The store was bought from Safeways in 2004 and does not meet its current owners specifications.

The retail giant, which owns the vacant distribution warehouse adjacent to the site, has been granted permission by members of Dudley's development control committee to demolish both buildings to make way for a new store with a sales area of 3,756 square metres.

The new supermarket will provide jobs for 368 people, an extra 89 at the store, and 407 parking spaces compared to the current 287.

A new petrol station will be built providing 12 pumps and the main entrance for vehicles will be controlled by a new set of traffic lights on Stallings Lane.

The new supermarket will be open from 7am to 11am Monday to Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sundays, goods vehicles will be permitted to arrive and leave seven-days-a-week from 6am to 11pm.