PLANS have been approved to replace a Wollaston furniture factory with new homes.

An application to demolish Stour House in Wollaston Road and replace it with 11 new detached homes has been given the thumbs-up by Dudley Council planners.

An officer’s report said although part of the site is located within the River Stour floodplain – the Environment Agency raised no objections to the plan which included a flood risk assessment seeking to demonstrate there would be no risk of flooding.

The report adds: “Whilst some of the proposed dwellings will back onto the river, this is unavoidable given the shape of the site, however, the majority of the boundary with the river is open with houses facing outwards onto it.”

The derelict site has long been used for industrial purposes and was occupied by Palace Furniture factory for many years, but the plans will see it transformed with three and four-bedroom homes with parking and landscaping.

A design and access statement by Simpatico Town Planning, commissioned by Alps Homes Limited, said the scheme would help to meet housing needs and it would "greatly enhance amenity and vitality in the area”.

Approving the scheme, the officer said in his report the development was acceptable as the site had outline planning permission and he added: “The proposal is acceptable from an amenity, design, flood risk and nature conservation point of view.”

One letter of objection was received – raising concerns about potential ground level changes leading to land instability, loss of trees and the impact on ecology.

The report, however, said a retaining wall would be provided due to the change in site levels, a strip of land would be provided along the river to provide an improved nature conservation corridor, and trees with potential to provide foraging and roosting for bats should be protected.