A former police station in the Black Country could be given a new lease of life as residential accommodation under fresh proposals submitted to local authorities. The former Oldbury Police Station, located off Oldbury Ringway in the town centre, is the subject of a planning application that seeks to transform the disused building into six new flats.
Details of the Proposed Conversion
The application, lodged by BSSO Properties with Sandwell Council, outlines plans to convert the former police offices into a mix of one-to-three-bedroom flats. Importantly, the proposal emphasises that much of the site will remain unchanged, including existing fences and the station's car park, ensuring minimal external alteration to the building's footprint, scale, massing, and roof form.
Sustainable Development and Policy Compliance
A statement accompanying the application highlights the project as a high-quality, sustainable initiative that aligns with local policies. It states: "The proposed conversion of the former Oldbury Police Station to six self-contained flats represents a high-quality, sustainable, and policy compliant development. The scheme reuses a vacant building, preserves local character, delivers compliant residential accommodation, and supports Sandwell’s housing and regeneration objectives."
The building, situated on Stone Street in Oldbury town centre, was vacated by West Midlands Police earlier this decade as part of a series of cost-cutting measures that led to the closure of several stations. This move reflects broader efforts to repurpose surplus public assets for community benefit.
Broader Context of Police Property Sales
This development is not an isolated case. Recently, another planning application was submitted to Sandwell Council concerning the empty West Midlands Police training centre, Windmill House, on Windmill Lane in Smethwick. That proposal aims to convert the three-storey 1970s building into a 76-bed house of multiple occupation (HMO).
Windmill House, which served as a training centre and accommodation for police trainees until its closure last year, was sold to MNP Investment Holdings in June 2025. It was among several West Midlands Police properties deemed 'surplus to requirements,' with Smethwick and Oldbury police stations also being put up for sale.
The application for Windmill House, submitted by Kamraan Ahmed of Meizon Ltd, notes that the building had recently been used for accommodation, with trainees transported to and from the main Tally Ho Training Centre in Edgbaston, Birmingham. These transformations underscore a trend of adaptive reuse of former police facilities to address housing needs and regenerate local areas.
