A car wash business located on Shell Corner near Blackheath has been ordered to demolish a building erected without planning permission. Hot Wheelz Car Wash Ltd, based on Belgrave Road, was served an enforcement notice by Dudley Council mandating the removal of the unauthorized metal structure and the restoration of a partially demolished boundary wall.
The company appealed this enforcement notice to the Planning Inspectorate, claiming their modifications qualified as permitted development and did not require formal approval. However, the appeal was dismissed after the Inspectorate found that both the metal building and the partial demolition negatively impacted the local streetscape.
The Inspectorate’s decision highlighted that the building’s scale, mass, and industrial appearance clash sharply with the surrounding architecture, which mainly consists of modest brick buildings featuring traditional details. Its prominent corner location further exacerbates its disruptive effect on the character of the area. Additionally, the removal and damage to a section of the historic boundary wall reduced its visual and heritage value.
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In a separate but related ruling, Hot Wheelz also lost an appeal against a change of use enforcement notice. The company had been ordered in 2024 to cease all business activities including car valeting, vehicle maintenance, repairs, and sound system installations, due to lack of planning consent. Although the company contended that they had not been properly notified of the enforcement, the Inspectorate confirmed the notice was served correctly.
Further concerns leading to this decision included the business generating excessive noise and creating traffic problems in the neighborhood. The Inspectorate noted that noise and disturbance from the unauthorized operations harmed the living conditions of nearby residents as well as nearby commercial tenants. Moreover, the traffic generated raised safety concerns and the site was deemed to have inadequate access and no sufficient mitigation for its impact on the local highway network.
These rulings underscore the importance of securing proper planning permissions and adhering to local regulations to protect the community’s quality of life and environment.