Historic Oldbury Bank Building Could Be Transformed Into HMO
A prominent grade II listed building in Oldbury town centre, which has stood empty since the closure of its Barclays branch in 2021, could soon be given a new lease of life as a house of multiple occupation and retail space.
Planning Application Details for Church Square Property
BD Properties has submitted a detailed planning application to Sandwell Council proposing the conversion of the former bank at the corner of Church Square and Birmingham Street into a six-bed HMO. The three-storey historic structure would retain a shop on the ground floor while the upper floors would be transformed into residential accommodation.
The application emphasizes that this development would secure a viable and sustainable future for the prominent listed building, which has been mostly vacant for several years. According to the proposal, the six bedrooms would share kitchen facilities and communal spaces, with no dedicated parking spaces included in the plans.
Heritage Considerations and Building Improvements
Significant attention has been paid to preserving the building's architectural integrity. The application specifies that inappropriate modern PVC windows would be replaced with traditional wooden sash windows, maintaining the historic character of the grade II listed property.
A comprehensive statement accompanying the application explains: The proposed conversion of 17 Church Square preserves the building's architectural and historic character; continues the pattern of approved alterations to listed buildings in the area; meets current HMO standards and policy requirements; and secures a long-term use for a designated heritage asset.
Precedent and Planning Context
The application references a relevant precedent from July 2025, when prior approval was granted for the adjacent property at 23 Birmingham Street to convert first and second floors from offices to residential flats. This decision established the suitability of town-centre locations and mixed-use heritage buildings for residential reuse.
The statement further argues that the development will deliver less than substantial harm, outweighed by the clear public benefits of reactivating vacant upper floors, conserving the listed structure, and contributing to sustainable town-centre living.
This proposal represents another chapter in the ongoing transformation of Oldbury's town centre, potentially bringing both residential accommodation and commercial activity back to a historically significant building that has been dormant for years.
