Flats plan aims to boost ailing Walsall town centre

Lapworth Architects have been granted permission for three proposals to transform the empty properties – two in Lichfield Street and one in Navigation Street – into flats.

Despite attempts at marketing the offices to try to attract new business in, they have remained abandoned and fallen into disrepair.

Bosses at Lapworth said their projects fit in with Walsall Council’s masterplan, which puts great emphasis on more town centre residential space, and will revive the fortunes of the high street and promote more sustainable living given the properties close proximity to public transport and shops.

The architects are working with Kalam Family Property Developers on the Lichfield Street offices, while owner Sarbjit Bilkhu has asked Lapworth to convert his Navigation Street premises into flats.

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Manraj Singh, of Lapworth Architects said: “Demand for office space in the town centre has decreased in recent years, with many businesses relocating out of the centre into bigger accommodation, meaning that plenty of buildings have fallen into a state of disrepair – making locals feel unsafe and promoting anti-social behaviour.

“This hat-trick of housing developments by local experts is looking to solve these problems and improve well-being and sustainable development in Walsall.

“We understand that the sites had previously been marketed for a considerably long period of time and very little interest has been shown in renting an office of this size and within this location.

“Furthermore all of the sites are in what can only be described as highly sustainable location – the site is in within walking distance of all the facilities one would expect within a town centre.”