Plans to convert a historic but crumbling former social club in Bearwood, Smethwick, into new housing have been given the green light by Sandwell Council.
From Community Hub to New Homes
The 100-year-old Corks Social Club on Bearwood Road will be transformed into a mix of townhouses and flats. The project, proposed by Tusq Construction, also includes creating space for a new shop within the building. The club, a former community hub for events ranging from weddings and theatre groups to jazz nights, went into administration in August last year.
An extra storey will be added to the building on the corner of Sherwood Road and Bearwood Road to facilitate the creation of three-storey townhouses. The application highlighted the poor state of the building, noting its roof was crumbling and allowing rain to leak in.
Parking Concerns Overcome by Planners
The council's highways department had raised significant objections to the scheme due to a complete lack of proposed parking spaces. Officers estimated that up to 24 spaces might be needed as a "lenient" estimate for the development, labelling its absence as "unacceptable" in the already cramped Bearwood area.
However, the council's planning team ultimately approved the application. They argued that the new residential use would generate far less demand for on-street parking than the former club, which hosted functions day and night. A planning report stated: "Trip generation associated with the existing use would far exceed that of the proposed dwellings."
The report also emphasised the site's town-centre location and sustainable transport links as factors mitigating the parking impact.
A Building's Troubled Recent History
The club's financial decline led to its administration, with Grant Thornton appointed to handle its affairs. The building was listed as an asset of community value. Initially set for a Bond Wolfe auction in September last year, it was withdrawn after a private offer. That buyer later pulled out, and the property was eventually sold for £740,000 in January 2025.
An administrator's report cited a years-long deterioration in trading performance due to reduced demand and rising costs. Meanwhile, a community group, Bearwood Community Hub, had campaigned to raise over £100,000 to secure the building's future.
A statement supporting the new housing application said the redevelopment would "revitalise the building's current state" and provide seven new homes, while creating an opportunity for new businesses and encouraging local regeneration.
