Flats plan for Worcester Street, Stourbridge, gets go-ahead

The four-storey Georgian building which was F & F Fellows and Fullwood Ltd on Worcester Street has been empty for years and will now be converted into four flats with a small studio office.

Work has already started with one neighbour, a resident of Hill Street, saying: "I was shocked to be able to see the timber frames protruding from the roof line whilst driving up Worcester Street, despite no planning approval."

The neighbour was also upset over the cutting back a protected Sycamore tree at the rear of the property which they said said has been "butchered to a trunk."

They said: "I have now lost all natural privacy this tree provided."

A design showing the protected Sycamore tree (Image: form architecture)

Another neighbour on Hill Street said: "Within less than 100m of this proposal are already two more blocks in various degrees of completion.

"Whilst you discuss parking at the rear I am concerned about how that is accessed and if we will then be having cars driven and or parked behind our houses and even on surrounding roads."

Permission was granted on January 12 with planners at Dudley Council saying the development is "not considered to be prejudicial to the amenities of neighbours, particularly when consideration is given to the activity arising from the previous use as an electrical contractor’s goods wholesaler."

They said "significant unauthorised works" to the protected Sycamore "have been the subject of complaint and investigation which will follow due process."

The layout of the site (Image: form architecture)

They added that another tree must be planted.

They said there was adequate off-street parking, with seven spaces to the rear.

The building is locally listed and is a late 18th/early 19th century terrace.

On the 1837 plan of Stourbridge it was referenced as ‘Park Terrace’.

The former shop on Worcester street (Image: Google)

There will be three two bedroom and one one-bedroom flat and seven parking spaces to rear.

An existing detached building to the rear is to be extended and used as an office, with notes to planners stating: "The studio office will allow a local small business/sole trader to rent a low-cost area to work from, with the new residents of the adjacent building being given the option to include the studio as part of their rental agreement."

A design and access statement states: "The proposed scheme will renovate a prominent building on a main access route into Stourbridge and provide much needed accommodation for small families and couples who would like to make the town their home."