Sandwell Council has granted approval for a new housing development opposite the forthcoming Horseley Road metro station in Tipton, part of the long-delayed Midlands Metro extension from Wednesbury to Dudley. The joint application by SWG Construction and Sandwell Council will see a two-storey block comprising 12 flats erected at the corner of Horseley Road and Railway Street.
The extension, currently under construction, includes the Horseley Road stop just across from the proposed affordable housing site. This development aims to alleviate the urgent demand for larger family accommodations in the area.
Council housing officers highlight a pressing shortage of three and four-bedroom flats, essential for families requiring additional living space. Reflecting this need, the approved plans include a targeted mix of unit sizes. Data from Sandwell Council reveals that applicants with a ‘non-emergency’ housing need, such as overcrowding, face waiting times nearing one year for one-bedroom flats. The wait extends to over four years for three-bedroom flats and approaches nine years for four-bedroom units.
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The site at Horseley Road and Railway Street falls within Sandwell Council’s local plan, which designates the area for approximately 50 new homes. Planners emphasized that the development aligns with local policies, as the land is not reserved as community open space and its conversion will revitalize an underutilized parcel.
In their assessment, planners stated, “The site accords with policy permitting windfall development on appropriate parcels of land, contributing to the borough’s housing needs. Its inclusion in the local plan underscores its suitability, making residential development here both acceptable and beneficial.”
This initiative represents a critical step toward addressing Sandwell’s housing shortages, particularly for families in urgent need of more spacious council housing options.