Apartments plan backed for former Stourbridge Police Station

Stourbridge Police Station, off the ring road, has been left empty since it was controversially closed two years ago, as part of West Midlands Police cuts.

Now a plan to breathe new life into the ring road site by creating 29 apartments has been backed by council officials.

Part of the former police base will be demolished but the rest will be preserved to become homes.

The station was sold last August and Lovell Homes revealed proposals to transform the site three months later.

Heritage experts said they were believed saving the building and bringing it back into use would provide a boost for Stourbridge.

The transformation of the site that was the police base for decades in the town comes after it was revealed recently Stourbridge was once again set to have a permanent home for officers.

Police chiefs are in talks about taking over the former Citizens Advice building on Market Street.

Stourbridge MP Margot James said: “It is important that we get a police presence back in Stourbridge. It was what the police committed to use when they decided to close the station.

“I am very pleased on both counts; that we will now have a police presence on Market Street and also there are now real plans to develop that site into accommodation. It is a great idea and I think it will bring life back into the town centre.”

The old station, part of which dates back to 1885, includes a bar, lounge and pool room where officers used to unwind.

The site includes three buildings – the old station itself, the ‘Wendy House’ which contained offices, and an accommodation block.

Stourbridge Police Station was one of 28 closed by West Midlands Police in 2017 under a plan to save a £8.6 million.

Others closed in Dudley town centre, Netherton, Kingswinford and Halesowen.