A HISTORIC Halesowen club set up during World War II will be demolished after plans to replace it with homes were given the thumbs up by planners despite objections.
The Shenstone Social Club on Kent Road was founded in 1941 but has stood empty for over two years after going into liquidation.
Taymar Homes will tear down the building to make way for three detached houses on the site after Dudley Council planners gave the scheme the go-ahead.
The developer downscaled its initial proposal to build four, five-bed luxury homes after a string of objections from neighbouring properties.
The homes will now be four-beds.
Concerns were still raised over the amended plan, about the gardens extending into greenbelt and the access road, which is unadopted.
Residents were also concerned about who is responsible for maintaining the access from Shenstone Avenue and an area of undeveloped woodland.
A report recommending approval to planners notes that: "Whist the end portions of the residential gardens would extend into the Green Belt designation, it is concluded that very special circumstances exist that would overcome the potential harm caused to the Green Belt in this respect subject to appropriate conditions.
"The form, layout and density of the development would respond to the existing context and there would be no demonstrable harm to the street scene or character and appearance of the area."
The report goes on: "There would be no demonstrable harm to neighbouring amenity and the proposed development raises no significant highway safety concerns."
It also states that the senior warden at Leasowes Park and the council's Senior Conservation Officer should be consulted with "in order to explore the most expedient and sustainable way of securing the future management" of the woodland area.
One house would have a detached double garage and the other two homes would have integral garages.
The club was started by local businessmen wanting to circumvent war time regulations which limited the supply of beer to pubs.
It continued after the war but falling membership numbers led it to finally close it doors in 2018.
The site borders the Leasowes Conservation Area and the western part of the site is within the existing green belt.
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