Planners back Reform councillor's unpermitted Oldbury cafe

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 13 Oct, 18:02 · Archive

Planners recommend allowing a Reform councillor's cafe that opened without permission in Oldbury to stay open.

Reform councillor Ritchie Massey opened Massey's Cafe in a former clothes recycling centre in Oldbury in late 2024 without planning permission from Sandwell Council. He applied for retrospective permission in 2025 but the application was rejected over concerns that the cafe could undermine existing businesses in Oldbury town centre and that it lacked sufficient parking spaces. He has since applied for a second time in June.

Sandwell Council's planners have now recommended that retrospective permission should be granted when the authority's planning committee meets on 22 October. The planning report noted that the cafe employs five people and serves primarily as an ancillary facility for nearby workers. According to customer survey evidence cited in the report, over 90 per cent of patrons travel on foot or by public transport.

Cllr Massey had argued to the council that the cafe was mostly frequented by customers working for nearby businesses who arrived on foot, and that suitable empty units in the town centre were unavailable.

Planners back Reform councillor's unpermitted Oldbury cafe — Image: Birmingham World

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How it is being reported

Planners say Reform councillor’s rule-breaking Oldbury café should stay openSandwell Council’s planners have said a Reform councillor’s café which opened nearly two years ago without permission should be allowed to stay.Birmingham World · 13 Oct, 17:52
Planners say Reform councillor’s rule-breaking Oldbury café should stay openSandwell Council’s planners have said a Reform councillor’s café which opened nearly two years ago without permission should be allowed to stay.Express & Star · 13 Oct, 17:52
Planners to rule whether Reform UK councillor’s rule-breaking Oldbury cafe should stay openThe retrospective application was rejected in 2025 over concerns it could undermine existing businesses in Oldbury town centreBirminghamLive · 13 Oct, 15:55

In this story: Ritchie Massey · Reform UK · Sandwell Council · Oldbury

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