PLANS to build 14 apartments in Quarry Bank have been given the green light.

The one, two and three bedroom flats will be built on vacant land on the corner of Thorns Road and Caledonia.

Dudley planners had refused the plans last year due to highways concerns, inadequate parking provision and a design that was out of keeping with the area.

However - when the applicant, Skidmore-Jones Building Ltd, lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate only the latter was upheld as grounds for refusal.

A revised application featuring scaled down, traditional-looking buildings set back from the highway was subsequently approved at Monday's meeting of the council's Development Control Committee.

Councillor Andrea Goddard said: "The land is an eyesore at the moment and I think it is going to look a lot better. I was against it last time but I'm for it now."

Committee chairman, Councillor Jackie Cowell, said: "I know the area very well and I think it will be quite an improvement, I think it's a good design."