Tipton Baths to become £3m care home in 2017
A former Black Country swimming baths will be turned into a £3 million care home within 18 months, as council bosses approved plans for the build.
Around 45 jobs will also be created on the site of the former Tipton Baths which was bought by Select Healthcare Developments who will be behind the new 29-bed site for people with complex care needs.
Speaking at Sandwell Council's planning committee meeting on Wednesday (MAR 16), managing director of the Dudley based company, Peter Cooke hailed the build as 'a great asset' to the borough.
"The home will be for people with complex care cases who may have suffered a severe car accident or have advanced Parkinsons disease or are stoke victims," he said.
"The service users will not be visible to the local community because they suffer from serious complaints and may be bed ridden.
"This build will be ideal for them to be in a homely environment and as we do a lot of work that a hospital would usually do, we would also be helping with the bed blocking crisis.
"I believe it will be a great asset to the Sandwell area," he added.
When it was initially proposed that the pool should be demolished, Tipton Civic Society urged the council to reconsider and turn it into a community facility. Bosses at the society argued the building had potential.
Campaigners that had fought to save the baths took a petition of more than 10,000 signatures against the closure to Downing Street.
Despite this the building was put up for sale in September 2012.
Mr Cooke added: "We were mindful of the site but are now looking forward to getting this built.
"The area and the views are delightful and perfect for our needs.
"From approval today it will be built within 18 months."
A report to the council stated: "The care home would provide 29 bedrooms with associated support facilities. Car parking and servicing would be served from both Queens Road and Manor Road, incorporating 19 parking spaces and goods deliveries areas
"Overall there would be 31 staff, which would be made up of 21 staff in the day and 10 staff at night.
Select Healthcare currently operates around 27 homes in the West Midlands area.
The baths were built on the land during 1933.
