Fresh move to convert listed building in West Bromwich into 36-bed HMO
Another attempt has been made to convert a listed building in West Bromwich High Street into a house of multiple occupation (HMO).
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The move would see the former grade II listed solicitors offices at 315-319 High Street, West Bromwich, converted into a 36-bed HMO.
The same planning application was turned down by Sandwell Council at the start of the year.
A statement included with the new application by Rachpal Takkhar said: “The building has been vacant for the last few years and the proposed use will bring the building in use and would create more activities to the street.
“The proposal will provide an additional 36 accommodations to the locals and will uplift the area in general. The proposal will create jobs for the locals and would support the local economy.”
The main building would comprise 29 en-suite rooms with six kitchens and two living rooms and a separate new block with five rooms, a kitchen and a living room.
The local authority’s planners rejected the move to extend the listed building, opposite the town’s newly restored Town Hall and Central Library, saying they were unable to decide whether potential benefits could outweigh the “harm” to the listed building.
A report outlining the council’s decision in January said: “As the heritage statement that accompanies the current application acknowledges, a degree of harm to the designated heritage asset would occur.
“This harm needs to be balanced against public good – in this case by bringing the buildings back into use and providing residential units.
“As there is currently no valid application for planning permission, it seems that there is no ‘public good’ to weigh the acknowledged harm against and therefore the local authority is not able to make a balanced judgement.”
Sandwell Council approved plans to turn the former offices into a 35-bed HMO in 2020 but the work was never carried out.
The three-year planning permission lapsed resulting in a fresh application in 2024.
The rear wing of the listed Georgian building would have been demolished to make way for a new two-storey extension according to the rejected application.
