A CAR dealership that opened without planning permission may be allowed to continue to operate despite the local council saying it’s a nuisance to neighbours.
West Midlands Cars on Franchise Street in Wednesbury, Birmingham, opened in 2022 without planning permission from the local authority being granted.
It has since been the subject of numerous complaints from locals and neighbours who have become increasingly annoyed by the business becoming overcrowded with motors which spill out onto the street.
The council’s planners rejected a move to formalise the business a year ago but that decision could now be overturned with an appeal being lodged.
A planning application was made by Gul Nawaz of West Midland Cars in June 2023 to use the site for car storage and sales.
Speaking today Gul said: “I’ve been selling cars for 20 odd years. Nobody had any problem with me at all.”
He added: “We are well within our rights, we’ve got nine people working here, we’re trying to save their jobs, if the council shut us down where are they going to go?”
He continued: “They’re trying to shut us down for no reason at all.”
Gul’s application was rejected by the council on the grounds that it was “inappropriate” and “to the detriment of residents.”
The site of West Midland Cars has been used since 2017 for the storage and sale of motors with the site falling into misuse briefly following enforcement action by the council.
It has since begun being used for storage and sales again with West Midland Cars operating without planning permission since at least 2022.
Sandwell Council has received “several” complaints regarding vehicles spilling out of the property onto residential streets and into a nearby pub car park.
Sandwell Council said in a report outlining its most recent decision on the property: “The car sales use and associated comings and goings is inappropriate in the locality and has a detrimental impact on the amenity of an otherwise predominantly residential area.
“The retention of the car sales use would impact on the highway network due to visitors to the site and manoeuvring of vehicles.”
The authority visited the site 18 months ago finding cars stored on the site, in the street and in the neighbouring pub car park.
The council commented: “The site layout was not representative of the layout plans submitted with the application.”
Visiting again in November council officers were shocked to discover a number of untaxed and ‘off the road’ SORN vehicles parked in the pubs car park, on the street and on pavements.
Following the visit the council said: ““Many properties on Franchise Street are Victorian terraced properties so residents rely on on-street parking, this business has a severe impact on residential amenity.”
Planners have rejected several proposals to revitalise the disused pub over the past decade with plans for an Islamic tuition centre, community centre and a HMO (home of multiple occupation) all falling flat.
