A bid to knock down a former Wyevale Garden Centre – Aldridge in Walsall – and build homes on the site has been blocked by local planners. The garden centre was sold to the the UKS Group in September after it was put on the market for £800,000.

The site in Chester Road, Walsall, was set to be bulldozed and transformed into 11 three, four or five-bedroom homes but an application was refused.

According to the Express & Star, planning bosses said proposals to redevelop the land were unacceptable because some of the homes would be built on surrounding land classed as green belt.

They also opposed the plans because they looked to redevelop the entire site rather than attempt to convert existing buildings, and there are also no bus services available for possible residents.

Concerns were also expressed that the new homes would be overbearing to nearby existing properties and would not be able to guarantee enough privacy for neighbours.

GTN Xtra contacted the UKS Group to see what their next move would be concerning the Aldridge garden centre but no one was available for comment.

A Wyevale Garden Centres spokesperson told us they wouldn't be making a comment on the developments because the garden centre was no longer part of their property.

The full Express & Star report can be viewed here