Fresh plans for flats above entry to old mineshaft

The council said the plot of land was a "high risk area", even if the mine entries had been treated

Fresh plans to build a block of flats on an overgrown town centre plot have been submitted after permission for the project expired.

Property developer Billy Singh has reapplied for planners to consider his plans to build eight two-bed flats in Pipes Meadow, Bilston, Wolverhampton.

The city council originally backed the plans in 2021 despite Coal Authority concerns about building above mine entries - but no work was carried out on the site.

Work was carried out in July 2021 to cap the old mineshaft entrance. The flats would be built between the town’s former Royal Mail sorting office and the busy Black Country Route.

Approving the plans three years ago, the council said its “poor physical condition” did not make a positive contribution to the area.

“The proposed redevelopment of this space for residential use would provide additional housing in this centre location, improve the visual appearance of this area and will respond positively to the conservation area,” the council’s planners said.

The new building would need reinforced foundations and be built as far away from the mineshaft as possible.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.