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A planning application has been submitted to Sandwell Council asking for permission to demolish a number of buildings to make way for a new coffee drive-thru and commercial bakery. The plans also include a mix of 37 one-to-four-bed homes which would be built on the former Silverthorne Lane car park and the site of the former Forge Works which was demolished several years ago. An existing industrial unit would be converted into a commercial bakery with the rest of the buildings on the site, which include a tyre and a gas shop, demolished, the application by Ruskin Properties said. A new estate road would be built off Lower High Street to access the homes. A statement included with the application said: “The site has a varied planning history, and it is clear from the relevant policies there is support for the redevelopment of such sites for new housing located within ‘regeneration corridors'. “The retail element of the proposal does however bring a significant number of economic, social and environmental benefits to the scheme. “These benefits, to name a few, bring increased sustainability, community engagement, providing access to amenities, and reducing the need for extensive travel. “Given the varied historic use of the site, and mix of surrounding existing uses, it is therefore considered the retail element of the proposal would integrate successfully into this residential led mixed use scheme.” The planning application is the latest in a line of housing plans around Cradley Heath railway station. Earlier this year, plans were revealed to demolish a row of old factories in Woods Lane off the opposite side of Forge Lane to make for nearly 100 new homes. The application said half of the buildings on the site were empty with many in a state of disrepair. Plans for more than 350 homes on the majority of the Woods Lane and MacArthur Road site were officially put forward in 2015 having been developed for more than five years. A number of other factories in Woods Lane were also demolished after Sandwell Council approved plans for 135 new homes in 2019.
