Sainsbury’s is set to try again with a new bid to build a convenience store in the car park of the Farmer John’s pub on Aldridge Road, Streetly, Sutton Coldfield. This marks the supermarket’s third attempt to gain approval from Walsall Council for the development, despite two earlier rejections.
The renewed application points to recent changes in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which now classifies the site as ‘grey belt’—previously developed land within the green belt—making it eligible for potential development.
The proposal details a single-storey convenience store occupying just under half of the pub’s existing 102-car parking spaces, reducing the pub’s lot to 56 spaces. Sainsbury’s would incorporate a 19-space car park for customers, including two disabled bays and an electric vehicle charging point, alongside six cycle spaces.
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Sited on the right-hand side of the lot when viewed from Aldridge Road, the store would cover a gross external area of 389 square metres, with dark grey fascias complementing its design. The development is expected to create roughly 20 full-time jobs, aiming to deliver a much-needed local shopping option.
Despite the benefits, previous proposals faced objections due to the location within the West Midlands Green Belt. Walsall Council raised concerns about the store’s design, its impact on the green belt’s openness, and its potential to disrupt the traditional character of Aldridge Road. The store was described as visually intrusive, with fears that it would lead to a cramped layout and detract from nearby heritage assets such as Blue House Farm.
An appeal lodged to the Planning Inspectorate in 2024 was also dismissed. The inspector concluded that the development would cause harm to the green belt’s openness, outweighing the proposed benefits.
However, Sainsbury’s planning consultants, Alder King, argue that the most recent updates to the NPPF in December 2023 now favor developments on ‘grey belt’ land. A supporting statement from Ground Control emphasizes that the pub and adjacent scout hut are urbanized spaces contiguous with Streetly’s urban area rather than forming part of the green belt. The revised guidance clarifies that development on previously developed land is not considered inappropriate if it does not cause substantial harm to openness.
With these new planning policies in play, Sainsbury’s hopes the council will approve the scheme this time. The latest application, registered on November 18 under number 25/1223, is targeted for a decision by January 12.