A former health centre in Wednesbury could now be turned into flats after plans for a 38-bed house of multiple occupation (HMO) were scrapped following a wave of objections.
New Plans for Former Mesty Croft Clinic
The single-storey former Mesty Croft Clinic in Alma Street, Wednesbury, would be converted into ten flats under new proposals. The previous application for a 38-bed HMO was withdrawn in 2024 after criticism from the local community and the town's MP.
The health centre closed when services moved a mile away to the state-of-the-art £5m Richard Nugent Centre off High Bullen in Wednesbury town centre at the end of 2023. The building was sold by Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust after being deemed “surplus to requirements.”
Objections to HMO Plans
The original HMO plans would have extended and converted the building into small flats with shared facilities. However, Antonia Bance, Labour MP for Tipton and Wednesbury, objected strongly, stating it was “clear the property could become unmanageable and a site of anti-social behaviour.”
“I do not believe that concentrating one type of accommodation of this sort in such numbers is conducive to community safety. This is particularly the case given it is opposite a primary school,” she said in her objection to Sandwell Council.
She added: “An application for an HMO development of this size is extraordinary, and will be incredibly hard to manage sustainably and effectively. Low-cost single or couple shared accommodation in this area is likely to provide homes primarily to people who may experience multiple disadvantages. Despite the application arguing that there is HMO demand from students, young professionals and young working couples, I think it is unlikely that this development will serve these markets.”
The new flats proposal aims to provide a more suitable development for the site, addressing community concerns while still delivering much-needed housing.
