Empty Tipton pub set to be turned into flats

The former Old Court House in Lower Church Lane, Tipton, which closed in 2021, would be turned into four flats as part of plans by Imran Afzal. 

A new three-storey building with six flats would also be built to the rear of the former pub’s car park according to the planning application submitted to Sandwell Council.

The upper floor of the pub, opposite Tipton Police Station, had already been converted into a two-bed flat. A two-storey extension would also be built behind the pub to make way for some of the new flats.

A statement included with the application said: “The proposed property is to be a conversion of the existing public house into four two-bedroom flats. There are to be six two-bedroom new-built flats at the rear of the site. Ten off-street car park spaces and cycle storage are located adjacent to each building. 

“The existing building has been designed to retain the existing street scene features. The new rear build has been designed to provide the main aspect of the courtyard area. There is a communal entrance lobby to each building. 

“To the rear of the site, there will be communal amenity space together [with a] storage building for secure cycle/mobility scooter storage. There are good transport links from the site via Dudley Port station and the number 74 bus is connected to Birmingham and Dudley and operates seven days a week.”

Sandwell Council approved plans by Mr Afzal to demolish a builder’s yard and offices in Brick Kiln Street, Tipton, for a new three-storey block with nine flats in May.

The council had criticised the application for potentially ‘damaging’ protected views of the listed St Martins and St Pauls church from the ‘sensitive’ canalside location near Tipton railway station. The plans were later redrawn following the concerns and then approved by the council.