Warehouse plans for old bowling alley

A DISUSED bowling alley in Walsall is to be transformed into a warehouse after planners gave the green light to a proposal.

The old MFA Bowl building, based in two units in the Old Hall Industrial Estate, in Revival Street, Bloxwich, has lain empty since the facility closed around two years ago.

Efforts to re-open the facility as a new tenpin bowling alley failed and has resulted in a rethink on future of the empty site.

But the units will now begin a new life as a warehouse after Walsall Council planning officers approved a proposal to change its use that was put forward by Old Hall Properties Ltd.

In the application, RW Architectural Services Ltd said: “The building was originally occupied by Old Hall Tableware, stainless steel manufacturer.

“It was subsequently occupied by a furniture manufacturer and storage facility until 1994 then being operated by GT Leisure

Bowl as a Ten Pin Bowling Alley which ceased during 2012.

“MFA Bowl Ltd took the building and continued the Ten Pin Bowling Alley until use ceased in 2017.

“The building lease was surrendered by MFA Bowl Ltd during August 2017 and the building has since been vacant & actively marketed.

“Since surrender of the lease the building has been marketed as a bowling alley without success of any takers or interest.

“During June 2018 a self-storage operator came forward to agree purchase of the building but unfortunately the sale fell through in September 2018.

“There has been no further interest in the building hence the applicant is seeking a change of use. “These units are small by warehouse standards Although an occupier for the units has not been finalised and a marketing exercise is currently being undertaken.”