Former West Brom Building Society headquarters set to become apartments

Society House, which has stood empty since the West Brom moved to its £20 million base at Providence Place, has been eyed up by developers who want to turn it into apartments.

A total of 92 flats would be created at the prominent building on West Bromwich High Street, under plans submitted by Empire Property Concepts to continue the regeneration of the town centre.

The historic former headquarters were sold to a residential developer for £3m in April, which has now made its intentions for the building clear. A total of 86 one-bedroom and six two-bedroom apartments would be built, breathing new life into the 45,000 sq ft office block which has been a fixture of the town centre for decades.

Six-storey Society House was purpose-built for the building society in the 1960s and was extended and refurbished over the years. It was originally bought by Empire Property Holdings after the 169-year-old building society relocated to the newly-built premises at Providence Place two years ago.

The building already has planning permission to be turned into flats so developers are hopeful the path to construction will be relatively smooth.

West Bromwich councillor Bawa Dhallu welcomed the move for the former building society base.

He said: "I think it will be a good use for the building. We need new accommodation because of the rising numbers of people in the town, so it is a good idea.

"If no-one else has come forward for the building then something needs to be done and housing is needed."

The West Brom moved to the 70,00 sq ft five-storey building new based, next to the BT regional business centre off the A41 island, where more than 400 staff are based.

The acquisition was Doncaster-based Empire Property's first in the Midlands, having previously purchased properties in Yorkshire, Lancashire and the North East. The company has an impressive track record for innovative commercial to residential renovations.

On completing the deal, managing director Paul Rothwell said: “We are delighted to have been able to acquire Society House.

“The town centre location makes this an ideal property for conversion into residential units with easy access to local amenities and transport links.”