Plans to convert a 143-year-old former church in West Bromwich into flats have been approved by Sandwell Council, with the main building retained after previous proposals to demolish it drew criticism from conservation officers.
Church to Become Flats After 2020 Closure
The former Hallam Street Methodist Church, located at the corner of Hallam Street and Lewisham Street, has stood since at least 1883. It closed in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic, briefly reopened in 2023, but shut again in October last year. Clubs and exercise classes that used the building ended a few months later.
Under the approved application by Avey Singh, the church will be divided and converted into two-storey two and three-bed flats. Several extensions to the main church will be demolished and replaced with four four-bed terraced homes.
Revised Plans Follow Conservation Concerns
Previous proposals had called for the church to be demolished and replaced with six new homes, which raised concerns from Sandwell Council’s planners and conservation officers over the loss of the historic building. Mr Singh was advised to redraw the plans to reflect the building’s character, with designs needing to be “careful and sympathetic” and use as much existing materials and architecture as possible.
A statement included with the application said: “The site comprises previously developed land in a sustainable residential location, currently vacant and underutilised following the cessation of its previous use as a place of worship. The principal church building is considered to represent a non-designated heritage asset and makes a positive contribution to the character of the area.”
Heritage-Led Approach Adopted
The statement added: “The proposed development has evolved discussions with the local planning authority, which raised concerns regarding the loss of the church building under earlier redevelopment proposals. In response, the scheme has been fundamentally reconfigured to adopt a heritage-led approach, prioritising the retention, conversion and long-term viable use of the historic church building, whilst enabling the efficient redevelopment of the remainder of the site.”
The conversion will provide new homes while preserving the 143-year-old structure, which has been a landmark in the community for over a century.
