Plans have been submitted to demolish the Desi 2 pub on Olbury Road in Smethwick and replace it with a new residential development consisting of 22 flats.
The application, submitted by developer Redland Bay to Sandwell Council, highlights the challenges the pub has faced since the Covid-19 pandemic, including financial difficulties, rising operating costs, changing customer habits, and limited on-site parking.
Formerly known as the Wagon and Horses, the pub transitioned into a desi establishment serving Indian grills in the early 2000s. However, the aging venue’s continued decline in business paved the way for plans to build a four-and-a-half-storey block of one- and two-bedroom apartments on the site.
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Earlier proposals for a taller, seven-story building with 37 flats were rejected due to concerns over parking provisions. Under the current plan, 15 parking spaces will be provided for residents, a reduced amount compared to the council’s usual requirements but deemed acceptable in this context.
The developer cited a precedent set by an 11-storey tower in Green Street, West Bromwich, which was approved despite a significant reduction in parking spaces.
According to the planning statement, the new development aims to revitalize a vacant brownfield site within Smethwick, aligning with local and national policies encouraging sustainable housing solutions in urban areas.
If approved, the project will deliver much-needed residential units and help regenerate the neighborhood by repurposing the under-utilized pub site.