Commercial replacement building at Wellsmead London Road Canwell Sutton Coldfield

The site and its history

The site is in the Green Belt, has an existing access, and previously had lawful commercial use for lawnmower and garden machinery services.

“The application site lies on the western side of London Road, Canwell. The site lies within the designated Green Belt and is accessed via an existing vehicular access onto London Road.”

“The wider site has a history of commercial use, which was confirmed by a Certificate of Lawfulness granted in 2019 for the sales, servicing and repair of lawnmowers and garden machinery (sui generis), covering the land and buildings as they existed at that time. Since that certificate was granted, the original building formerly occupying the application site has been demolished and replaced with the structure which is the subject of this application.”

Officer report

Why officers recommended refusal

Officers considered the building too large for the Green Belt and the existing access unsafe for the likely increased activity.

“The scheme does not give rise to residential amenity, ecological or tree concerns. However, the site lies within the West Midlands Green Belt, where inappropriate development is given substantial weight against it unless very special circumstances are demonstrated.”

“The Highway Authority has advised that the proposal would not provide a safe or appropriate vehicular access. While officers recognise that the access has historically served lawful commercial use and that a like-for-like replacement could have had a neutral highway impact, the proposed building is substantially larger, with a much greater footprint and increased height, and would likely intensify activity on the site.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The applicant’s agent made representations before the application was considered.

The committee’s decision

The committee refused the application in line with the officers’ recommendation.

“RESOLVED: Refused In line with officer’s recommendations as set out in the report.”

Minutes