We live in shadow of half-built giant mega-shed... our lives are made hell by monster metal skeleton which shakes homes and damages roofs

By ROBERT FOLKER, NEWS REPORTER Published: 14:06, 17 May 2026 | Updated: 14:12, 17 May 2026 Residents living in the shadow of a half-built giant 'mega-shed' say their lives are being made hell by noisy works which shake their homes and damage their roofs. The huge 90,000sqm commercial unit is being built in Walsall, West Midlands, on the site of a former Holiday Inn hotel, which burnt down in 2019. But the new development, the size of about 12 football pitches, has left locals fuming after it sprang up at the end of their gardens 'without any warning'.    Homeowners say the 'monster metal skeleton' blocks their sunlight, making them feel like they live next to a 'prison camp'. They claim drilling work has caused roof tiles to fall off their homes, which they now fear are devalued by the 'huge eyesore'. NHS worker Sunita Chhokar, 38, who has lived in the area since 2008, said: 'We want to move house but we fear the building will significantly devalue our home. 'Who wants to buy a house with that at the end of their garden?' The huge 90,000sqm commercial unit is currently being built in Walsall, West Midlands, on the site of a former Holiday Inn hotel, which burnt down seven years ago in 2019 Kath Watkins and Joe Curtis stood outside the 'eyesore' structure which they claim is ruining their lives A CGI image of what the huge new industrial unit will look like after its development. The mother-of-two said 'incredibly frustrating' drilling throughout the day makes it impossible for her to concentrate while working from home. She continued: 'They said it would be 14 metres tall and be below the tree line, but it looks a lot taller than that and they haven't even put the roof on yet. 'Once it is built, I worry about the noise as it sounds like it could be 24/7. We won't be able to sleep at night. 'There's already been break-ins before it's even built - I'm worried about crime too as criminals might start breaking into houses too.' Great-grandmother-of-three Kath Watkins, 75, a retired housing officer, has lived in the area for 47 years and lives opposite the development. She said: 'It's an absolute monstrosity that we all have to look at that eyesore. 'We came back from a break away and they had just started throwing it up. We didn't have any idea if was going to be this big. Ms Watkins is concerned about the noise nuisance and increased traffic volume, as well her home being devalued. 'I'm worried about the depreciation to my property and whether I'll ever be able to sell it in future,' she said. 'I can see it from my kitchen window while I wash the dishes and it has been really noisy in the day. 'I just can't understand how they got permission to build it that big and that close to people's gardens.' Satnam Lal, 58, has lived in the area for 13 years and claims that the concerns raised by him have fallen on deaf ears. He said: 'All the neighbours started a petition but nobody listened to our concerns. 'We were aware of the planning application but we didn't know it had got the go-ahead until it sprang up without any warning. 'Since then it has been horrific, my roof tiles have been damaged by the vibrations caused by the drills. 'We had a beautiful view beforehand and now all we can see is this. I'm concerned what it will be likes with all the lorries coming and going once it opens. 'So even once the building work is done we will have to contend with that. 'My mother passed away quite recently and I was planning on selling up and moving out of the area but I don't think I will be able to sell my home now. 'Who wants to look at that everyday? I think it must have wiped at least £20,000-£30,000 off the house values at least.' Homeowners claim drilling work has caused their homes to vibrate during the day, causing roof tiles to fall off their homes The structure can be seen by residents from the back garden of their homes, which they now fear are devalued The site is roughly the size of 12 football pitches and has left locals fuming after it sprang up at the end of their gardens One resident said there have also been several break-ins at the site at night, setting off a huge flashing yellow alarm beacon making them feel like they are living 'next to a lighthouse'. The woman, a 34-year-old mother-of-three, who did not want to be named, said: 'It has been crazy living next to this eyesore. 'I've lived here for a couple of years and it has been a building site for most that time. 'There was a hotel there before which burnt down but nobody agreed to this and we never knew the size of it until they started throwing it up. 'The noise and the vibrations have been absolutely horrendous. 'One Sunday, I had to go over there as my house was rattling and the roof tiles were falling off from all the drilling. 'We've had no privacy with cranes overlooking our homes, workmen are blasting out music which we can hear from our gardens. 'We were sitting outside the other day and we could have had a party in our garden the music was that loud. 'I like to stargaze and watch the planes with the kids but now we can't do that as there's that as our backdrop now. 'I captured the northern lights from my bedroom window the other month, now there's no chance. We've just got that giant shell ruining our lives.  'You can't see anything apart from that monster metal skeleton. It's like a prison camp.' The half-built industrial unit on the former Holiday Inn, near Junction 10 of the M6 The Holiday Inn was destroyed when flames ripped through the premises in a devastating broad daylight blaze on August 2, 2019. West Midlands Fire Service concluded the fire may have spread rapidly due to the lack of sprinklers inside the building. None had been fitted despite earlier brigade warnings. Commercial developer Graftongate and Cilldara Group later obtained the site and are behind the construction of the new building off Wolverhampton Road West which will be known as 'Walsall 90'. The site has been earmarked for general industrial and storage uses while also including space for parking and manoeuvring HGVs suitable for a single-use logistics business. Graftongate's website states that the new development will be built to industry-leading standards containing the latest technologies and features including energy panels, EV charging points, and low-energy LED lighting. On completion the scheme will also benefit from a 131ft (39m) deep yard with a 50ft (15m)-tall arch. The firm's construction director James Martyn-Smith said previously: 'Walsall 90 offers prospective occupiers the chance to create a premium quality logistics unit to meet their needs. 'We will be delivering a highly efficient development, loaded with sustainable features, that will appeal to a range of businesses. 'The site lies in a prominent location, with direct access to Junction 10 of the M6 motorway.' Walsall Council granted planning permission for the development of the vacant five-and-a-half-acre site three years ago. A council spokesperson said: 'Local residents were notified of the planning application and any comments received were considered before planning permission was granted in May 2023 for the construction of a commercial unit on the site of the former Holiday Inn. 'The developer is understood to be delivering the unit in accordance with the planning permission and the attached conditions.' Graftongate and Cilldara Group have also been contacted for comment. 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