Factory left empty for 40 years will become flats

The former Frank Glover works in Mary Ann Street have been empty since closing in the late 1970s

A factory left empty for more than 40 years will finally be demolished to make way for new flats in Wolverhampton city centre.

An industrial unit and former Frank Glover works in Mary Ann Street, empty since the late 1970s, will be partially knocked down and extended to make way for 22 flats.

The building was in a "poor state of repair with broken windows and decaying roofs", the application said.

Sixteen car parking spaces were included and City of Wolverhampton Council, whose planning officers have given approval, said the proposal sought to partially demolish and extend the existing building.

The application included one and two-bed flats.

The new building, off the A454 Middle Cross near the city centre's Bilston Street island, would be covered in light and dark grey cladding.

A report outlining officer approval said the principle of residential development was "considered acceptable being close to residential properties, to the transport network and within walking distance to the city centre".

It added, apartments "all provide good quality living accommodation", but there was "no provision for private amenity space", it added.

The proposal sought to partially demolish and extend the building "to provide much needed housing close to the city centre", the report said.

A statement included with the planning application said the building had been derelict without any maintenance.

"It is having a detrimental impact on the surrounding area and is attracting vandalism," Complete Design, representative of applicant L Soni, has stated.

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