New Black Country engineering training centre revealed in plans

The building, in Fisher Street, Tipton, has been granted temporary permission for two years for a change of use to become an educational centre.

The property is empty and is 1,100m2, and it is proposed that the existing building will be utilised for the new centre.

There will be a reception area, two classrooms, two practical rooms, a computer room, an electrical test room, a gas assess room, kitchen, office, store and toilets.

The application says: "The proposed training course will provide academic and practical training to apprentices to become qualified gas and electrical engineers.

"All trainees are expected to attend the course either in full time or part-time basis within a six to eight week interval. Each class will have a maximum 10 participants at one time and will run from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

"Staff including tutors will be no more than six people occupying the building.

"It is considered that the proposed change of use will provide more qualified engineers to serve the community as an intended purpose of the training course. We do not see the proposal will cause any detrimental effect to the surrounding premises nor the local area in terms of environmental and highways issues.

"To utilise the building in its full potential and on the whole, the application is considered to be acceptable for the reasons outlined above, we hope to receive full support for the proposed scheme."

The centre will create four full-time jobs and two part-time jobs.