Warehouse destroyed by fire to be rebuilt

A warehouse destroyed by fire will be rebuilt after receiving the backing of council planners.

City of Wolverhampton Council has approved a planning application to build three new industrial units at the Atlas Trading Estate in Cross Street, Bradley.

Two units in the middle of the Atlas Trading Estate were destroyed by fire in January 2024 and the planning application was submitted a year later.

At its height, around 70 firefighters tackled the blaze in the early hours of 14 January.

A number of surveys were carried out after the planning application was submitted over drainage and flooding concerns.

The council's planners said the benefits of rebuilding the units outweighed any other concerns.

"The proposals would involve a significant investment and likely create jobs here when the site is back in use," a council report outlining the approval of the application said.

It added that the proposals were acceptable in principle and complied with adopted planning policy.

Furthermore, it said full regard had been given to the comments raised by statutory consultees, particularly in relation to flood risk and drainage.

The report added: "On balance, although the comments raised are acknowledged and carry weight, it is considered that the risk of potential harm arising from rebuilding this fire damaged building, at this previously long established employment site, does not outweigh the overall benefits of the scheme.

"As such, the development is judged to comply with the development plan when read as a whole, and there are no material considerations that indicate planning permission should be withheld."

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