Walsall Council has formally submitted a planning application to transform the town's Leather Museum into a dedicated Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) facility for Walsall College. This move comes despite significant public opposition, including a petition signed by more than 3,300 people aiming to keep the museum in its historic home.
Council Pushes Ahead with Regeneration Plan
The authority first announced its intention to ‘reprovide’ the museum's artefacts in a different, undisclosed town centre location in September 2025. The plan forms part of broader local regeneration efforts. The existing museum building on Littleton Street West, which opened in 1988, is housed in a Victorian factory complex. It is not listed nor situated within a conservation area.
Deputy leader Councillor Adrian Andrew confirmed in October 2025 that funds from the government's Community Regeneration Partnership had already been allocated to make the building disability-friendly. The council aims to relocate the college's SEND provision from its Hawbush site into the more central museum building.
Certificate of Lawfulness Sought for Change of Use
The application, submitted by the council's construction director Richard Ackerley, does not seek full planning permission. Instead, it requests a certificate of lawfulness. This confirms that the proposed works are covered by permitted development rights, as both the current museum use and the future educational facility fall within the same use class.
Walsall College has provided a letter of support for the application. It outlines several benefits of the new location for SEND students:
- Access to outdoor space.
- Proximity to the college's Wisemore Campus, allowing use of facilities like drama studios and teaching kitchens.
- Excellent nearby transport links to encourage student independence.
Public Opposition and Next Steps
Despite the council's and college's support for the project, a petition launched in November 2025 has gathered considerable momentum. Over 3,300 signatures have been collected from residents opposed to moving the museum from its long-standing home.
The council is proceeding with the application regardless of this public objection. A target date has been set for a decision on the certificate of lawfulness to be made next month.
