A REVISED plan to build more than 50 homes on the old Longlands School site in Stourbridge has been submitted to council planners.

Persimmon Homes has submitted a revised scheme to develop the Brook Street site with 52 homes after its initial plan, for 59 homes, was refused in January this year.

An appeal regarding the original scheme was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate but meanwhile the developer has drawn up and submitted a revised application for a somewhat less dense scheme after objectors raised concerns that 59 homes would constitute over development of the site which sits in the middle of the congested Old Quarter.

The developers held a consultation event at St James’ Church Hall, Wollaston, in April – offering residents the chance to discuss the plan in further detail before they officially submitted it to Dudley Council.

The former school and art college site, which is owned by Birmingham Metropolitan College, has slowly been taken over by nature since it was mothballed back in 2011 when Stourbridge College moved its art and design courses to a new campus in Brierley Hill.

The revised scheme would see the historic former school buildings, some of which are locally listed, demolished to make way for a new housing estate, accessed off Bowling Green Road, comprising of a mix of two, three and four-bedroom homes with an arts and crafts style character.

Six would be shared ownership properties and seven affordable rental properties - with 39 homes going on the open market.

The original Brook Street entrance would provide emergency access for fire or ambulance vehicles if needed.

Stephen Cleveley, director-in-charge of Persimmon Homes West Midlands, said: “For many years, derelict Longlands campus has been plagued by vandalism and branded an eyesore. We are committed to developing the site in a sensitive way that will enhance the local community and believe it will have an immensely positive impact on the area.

“We have resubmitted our application following further consultation with the planning authority and have listened carefully to the local community. 

“We are confident that we now have a scheme that takes on board all of the local residents’ comments and are hopeful of getting planning permission granted.

“If we are successful with this further application, then we will be withdrawing our appeal.”

A number of objections, however, have been submitted to Dudley Council's planning website about the scheme which Labour campaigner Cat Eccles believes remains "too dense for the area".

She said: "I'm still very much against it. It still proposes moving wildlife, with no further consideration to surrounding roads. I'm especially concerned this will get railroaded through now that BMet have announced the college closure and will be desperate to offload their assets and get out of town.

"It's essentially putting a housing estate inside a housing estate, where the local primary school is already oversubscribed and the local GP struggles to provide appointments to everyone in the area currently."