Health centre plan for shut historic Smethwick swimming pool
Smethwick’s grade II listed Thimblemill swimming baths is to be converted into a multi-million pound community health centre after being sold to new owners.
The premises in Thimblemill Road closed its doors two years ago following the opening of the £73m Sandwell Aquatics Centre nearby and was put on the market by Sandwell Council as part of a move to save £840,000. Since closure it has been the scene of a series of vandalism attacks.
The new owners are local GPs based at the Norvic Family Practice based in Norman Road who are now the freehold owners of the property and will be responsible for all development costs.
Dr Amandeep Suthi, of Norvic Family Practice, said: “We are excited to announce these proposals for the historic Thimblemill Baths building, which we know is much-loved by the local community. We are working with architects to design a sympathetic conversion of this Grade II listed building to restore it for public use, and we will provide more details as soon as we can.
“We have run out of clinical rooms at our current site in Norman Road so we can’t offer any more appointments than we already do. By moving to new premises, we will be able to offer more appointments in the future.”
Councillor Peter Hughes, Sandwell Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Infrastructure, said: “The council has worked hard to secure a positive future for this landmark building in Smethwick.
“I am delighted the sale is now complete – and I look forward to seeing the detailed design proposals for a conversion that promises to both preserve the building and benefit people’s health and wellbeing for many years to come.”
The proposals, which are subject to planning permission, are aimed to preserve the building which was constructed in 1933 and see it continue to serve the community.
Under the plans, a number of medical and health services will be based at the new centre, which would be fully accessible. Surrounding spaces would also be improved, with new trees, new paths, new signage and additional car parking spaces on site for staff and visitors.
Sandwell Council completed the sale of the site in Thimblemill Road to new owners in April – following a decision taken by the council’s cabinet last year to sell it.
The site was more recently known as Smethwick Swimming Centre and closed in 2023 as part of a planned investment in new leisure facilities for the area when the state-of-the-art aquatics Centre opened to the public during the Commonwealth Games.
The plan to convert the building into a new health centre will be subject to planning permission and the council expects the new owners to submit an initial pre-planning application soon with a full planning application to follow.
Meanwhile Norvic has stepped up security at the site following some break-ins and vandalism.
Earlier this year Councilor Hughes said no planning had been out in place for the site ahead of its closure.
