Sutton Coldfield sorting office to be partially demolished i

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Sutton Coldfield sorting office to be partially demolished in new plan

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THE future of the historic Sutton Coldfield post office depot has been settled after a partial-demolition plan was finally approved.

After months of wrangling over the future of the 1942 Royal Mail depot in Upper Clifton Road, city planners have agreed that part of the building can go.

Royal Mail had argued that the depot, which was built by American forces during the Second World War, is too costly to renovate, run or repair and it hoped to build a new facility on the leafy site, restore a Victorian train shed as offices and sell the rest of the land for housing.
Sutton Coldfield sorting office plans

But a preservation order from English Heritage prevents demolition, so now a plan to pull down part of the building, restore the rest at an estimated cost of more than £3 million and offset that cost by building and selling 27 houses bordering Sutton Park has won approval.

Many felt the 1942 depot lacks charm or any architectural merit, but English Heritage believes that its worth protecting because of its role in the war effort, as the depot through which all correspondence between American soldiers, sailors and airmen in Europe and their families across the Atlantic.

The long-running row over the depot and various plans now seems to have finally been resolved after English Heritage gave its backing to the partial demolition and planning permission agreed.

Planning committee member Coun Maureen Cornish (Cons, Sutton Four Oaks) said: “Partial demolition seems a satisfactory compromise although at £3.17 million for Royal Mail it is an expensive one.

“It has been found to be acceptable by English Heritage and they are the big player here. We have looked at all the plans and there are no further options which will be acceptable to all sides.” Councillors had previously indicated they might refuse the scheme, because some supported total demolition and others wanted the entire building preserved.

The plan will see the shed halved, the remaining piece restored and continued to be used as a mail depot. The rear of the site will be set aside for housing