The Royal Oak, a former pub on Oxford Street in Walsall that has been vacant since the pandemic, is once again under consideration for redevelopment into housing.
Laxmi Properties has submitted a new proposal to convert the building into seven apartments, supplemented by the construction of two semi-detached houses on the land behind the pub. The application outlines two access points: an in-and-out driveway from Oxford Street and an exit-only route onto Prince Street.
This is the second attempt by the developer to transform the site. An earlier application in 2024, which mirrored the current plan of seven flats within the old pub and two houses at the rear, was denied by Walsall Council. The council cited several reasons for refusal, including the absence of an ecological assessment, inadequate parking provision, and failure to meet access width standards.
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Representatives from Cedar Planning, acting on behalf of Laxmi Properties, explained that prior to closure, multiple efforts were made by the pub’s owner to sustain its viability. However, these attempts were unsuccessful, and interest from potential buyers to continue operating the venue as a public house was limited. The need for substantial refurbishment was also a deterrent for prospective operators.
The local authority intends to review the latest application and reach a decision next month, potentially paving the way for a significant change to this long-vacant community building.