Plans for apartments in historic Walsall offices
Offices in an historic Walsall town centre building could be converted into seven new apartments.
Birmingham-based BNK Properties has submitted a proposal to Walsall Council planners for the offices on the first, second and third floors of the locally listed building in Bridge Street.
The ground floor of the property currently homes the Refuge and Migrant Centre Walsall branch but the developer wants to create seven apartments on the upper levels.
The flats will be aimed at young students and no alterations will be made to the front of the property, which sits in the Lichfield Street Conservation Area.
The building dates back to the late 19th century and has had a number of uses over the years including shoemakers, drapers and a travel agent’s offices.
Since the mid-20th century and up until 2019, there had been either a bank or a building society operating from the ground floor.
Amalgamated
The Walsall Mutual Benefit Society was listed there from 1959 until it was amalgamated with the Rugby and Warwick Building Society in 1974, changing the name to Heart of England Building Society.
This was later absorbed by the Cheltenham and Gloucester, which was then taken over by Lloyds. TSB had it last before the Refugee and Migrant Centre opened its doors in December 2019.
The centre gives people advice and guidance on immigration, housing, homelessness, welfare and education as well as providing English classes and support with citizenship and employment.
In a heritage statement, The Jessop Consultancy said: “It is considered that the proposed scheme preserves the special character and appearance of the Lichfield Street Conservation Area and will have no detrimental impact upon the setting of any adjacent Listed buildings
“The proposals are internal and such that they seek to maintain and preserve features within the building that are considered to represent heritage significance, whilst ensuring a new use for the upper floors which are only partially utilised.
“The upper floors were originally intended for use as domestic accommodation prior to their conversion to a offices, and the scheme proposes to reinstate this use.”
