A crucial decision is imminent regarding the demolition of several old factories in Cradley Heath to accommodate nearly 100 new homes. The site, formerly home to F. & L. Smout & Sons along Woods Lane, is proposed to be cleared to make way for a development featuring 82 houses and 15 flats.
The redevelopment application, submitted by Mark Grady of Liberty Developments, highlights that about half the buildings on the site are vacant and many are in poor condition. Situated adjacent to Cradley Heath train station, this transformation aims to revitalize the area.
Sandwell Council’s planning committee is scheduled to meet on June 10, with a recommendation leaning towards approval of the plans. The council has praised the development’s design quality and the inclusion of a significant number of affordable homes, which help balance the loss of some non-designated heritage assets and a portion of land designated for local nature conservation.
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Initial plans for over 350 homes across Woods Lane and Macarthur Road were introduced in 2015 after several years of development. Since then, parts of Woods Lane have already seen factory demolitions, including approval for 135 new homes in 2019 and an additional 34 homes approved in 2022 at the corner of Woods Lane and Cradley Road.
The application details reveal a vision for 98 dwellings comprising a range of two- and three-bedroom houses paired with 15 apartments, including two-story split-level and duplex configurations. Notably, several industrial buildings such as Howells Patent Glazing and the Griffin Woodhouse Chain Proofing Building currently occupy the site. While some locally listed buildings like the Proving House and Office remain in use, most other structures are dilapidated and non-operational.
The proposal aims not only to replace these derelict industrial buildings but to establish a residential area that honors the site’s history while cultivating a vibrant new community with a distinctive character.