A major planning application has been submitted that would see a disused police training centre in the Black Country transformed into a large house of multiple occupation (HMO).
From Police Training to Key Worker Accommodation
Windmill House on Windmill Lane in Smethwick, which served West Midlands Police as a training centre and accommodation block, closed its doors last year. The force deemed the 1970s-built property surplus to requirements and sold it to MNP Investment Holdings in June 2025.
Now, a fresh proposal from Kamraan Ahmed of Meizon Ltd seeks to retrofit the three-storey building into a 76-bed HMO specifically designed for key workers and young professionals. The application highlights the site's proximity to the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital, which opened in 2024, as a key driver for the project.
Details of the Proposed Redevelopment
The plans involve a significant internal overhaul while retaining the existing concrete frame and cladding to minimise embodied carbon. Each of the 76 bedrooms would feature an en-suite shower room, a pull-down bed integrated with a sofa, a dedicated workspace, and built-in storage.
As part of the conversion, the number of car parking spaces on site would be reduced from 47 to 23. The planning statement explains that the design works within the constraints of the original structure to avoid unnecessary demolition, supporting circular economy principles.
Part of a Wider Regeneration Push
The proposed conversion sits within a broader context of local regeneration. The surrounding area is earmarked for hundreds of new homes and a new school. This application follows other police property sales, including Smethwick and Oldbury police stations, as West Midlands Police rationalises its estate.
The application's supporting statement argues the scheme will provide affordable, flexible accommodation for healthcare staff and others, directly supporting the local workforce in an evolving neighbourhood. The final decision now rests with Sandwell Council's planning department.
