Block 1 - High Street/St. Johns Road

This is a dominant block within the Town Centre retail core and is important in contributing to the intrinsic sense of enclosure that is Stourbridge, with its strong frontage to the High Street. The block’s weakness is fronting Coventry Street, where the frontage has been lost, and to St. Johns Road where the private realm is exposed.

Little change is envisaged within this block, as it forms part of the major retail core and has a protected frontage to High Street. However, opportunities arise to reinstate the south side of Coventry Street with active and attractive frontages and strengthen the pedestrian links adjacent the Post Office, between 47/48 High Street and via Foster Street. This is particularly important in order to link the High Street with the Angel Passage development site. Preferred retail uses should be limited to shops of a scale and nature that reflect the distinctive character of the block. Large single units of floorspace over 2500m2 are considered inappropriate, especially those devoted to bulky goods and/or DIY. Within the block, the use of upper floors for residential or office uses is desirable. Other uses within B1 would not be considered appropriate for upper floors.

Any infill or redevelopment should respect the varying heights, widths, materials and rooflines that are a feature of the High Street. The north-west corner of the block currently has Conservation Area status and these buildings should be preserved and respected. The remainder of the block frontage to High Street should be treated in the same manner.

The downgrading of St. John’s Road provides an opportunity to introduce traffic management measures to the High Street and provide rear servicing from St.John’s Road.

Coventry Street Opportunity Site

Residential development is the preferred use for this site (Site A). Development should be back-of-pavement to help recreate the street enclosure and provide rear servicing/parking in a courtyard area. The pedestrian link to High Street should be retained and strengthened.

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