A dedicated community group fighting to preserve the historic White Lion pub in Caldmore faces a continued wait before a decision is made on its local listing application. The Friends of the White Lion submitted their request to have the pub on Sandwell Street locally listed in August 2024, a move that would provide additional protection for the building’s unique character in future planning decisions.
While local listing does not offer the same level of safeguarding as a national listing, it ensures the building’s historical significance is taken into account by planners. However, almost a year later, the application has yet to be scheduled for review by the planning committee.
Mark Whitehouse, chair of the campaign group, explained the importance of the local listing: “If it gets a local listing, it adds an extra layer of protection. It strengthens our argument that the White Lion is a vital part of our local heritage. Ultimately, it may be overruled, but winning this moral argument matters to us.”
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Despite repeated inquiries, the group has received little information on the current status of their application. Mark expressed concerns that the current owners, 88 Capital Investments Ltd, might allow the building to deteriorate, making redevelopment inevitable.
Walsall Council recently confirmed to the Local Democracy Reporting Service that a report on the White Lion will be brought before the planning committee ‘this summer,’ offering hope that the matter will soon be considered.
The Friends of the White Lion have been campaigning for over five years to see the pub reintegrated into the community. Since its closure to the public in 2020, the pub has been placed on auction twice but later withdrawn.
In a significant victory for the group, the pub was granted Asset of Community Value status in February 2025 after a reversal by Walsall Council, which initially rejected the application. This decision followed criticism from the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), who described the council’s original refusal as ‘perverse.’
Mark shared the group’s vision for the building’s future: “We want the pub brought back into use, with part of it operating as a pub and the rest adapted for other purposes. One bar alone can’t sustain such a large building; upstairs could be offices, commercial space, or even living accommodation to generate additional income. This approach would be far more viable than letting the building fall into disrepair.”
He added, “Local people have stepped up to champion this building for years. Without a committed group like ours, places like the White Lion are forgotten. We’re still here after five years, and we’ll be here in five more. We will not let the pub’s fate be decided quietly or without a fight.”
Mark warned of the consequences if the building is neglected: “If nothing happens, we will keep raising our voices. The worst-case scenario is the building falls into disrepair, leading the council to declare there is no community interest, paving the way for developers to take over.”
A Walsall Council spokesperson reiterated the council’s ongoing efforts: “The White Lion Public House was assessed by independent heritage consultants as part of the Black Country-wide Local List project in 2021/22. A report on these findings will be presented to the planning committee this summer.”