Empty Walsall offices to be converted into flats
Disused offices which have lain empty in Walsall town centre for years will be transformed into new apartments.
Walsall Council planners gave the thumbs-up to a proposal to convert Glebe House into a block of 36 new one and two-bedroom flats.
Applicants Rusjon said the building has been used as offices since the 1970s but had spent the last seven years mostly empty, with efforts to bring in new businesses to use the offices not coming to fruition.
Once work is complete, the development will feature 24 one-bedroom apartments and a further 12 flats with two bedrooms.
The site already has 51 parking spaces and the developers said 49 will be kept for the new apartments with a cycle store created on the remaining two.
In the application, agents Latimer Planning said: “The offices have been extensively marketed to find a new occupier.
Sustainable
“Unfortunately, despite this marketing, the owners have been unable to find a new tenant.
“The site is in a highly sustainable location and it is within approximately five minutes walking distance of shops sufficient to meet daily needs.
“The intention is to provide a secure cycle store for up to 36 bicycles. A high degree of access is available by public transport across the West Midlands conurbation.
“The site is located fronting onto Wednesbury Road which is a major bus route. The main Walsall Railway Station is a 10-15 minute walk from the site.
“It is set back from Wednesbury Road away from the commercial operators on the west side of this road. Due to this it is not anticipated that the change of use would be affected by noise.
“The building and greater site are suitable for change of use from offices to residential.
“The proposed scheme is well designed and provides apartments that both conform to the nationally prescribed space standards and provide natural light to all habitable rooms.”
