A neglected former mission hall in Cradley Heath is set to be transformed into supported living flats, bringing new hope to the Old Hill community. Sandwell Council has approved Edgeview Homes’ plans to convert John Owen House, located at the corner of Grange Road and Waterfall Lane, into six supported living flats.
These flats will provide 24-hour care for adults aged 18 to 65 living with learning disabilities, mental health issues, autism spectrum disorders, and other complex needs. The application highlighted the hall’s poor condition and longstanding neglect, which has left the building in a state of disrepair.
This approval follows the council’s recent support for housing developments in the area, including plans to convert the former Old Furnace pub on Grange Road into flats. The dilapidated pub, closed since 2010, has seen multiple planning applications over the years—ranging from offices to retail space—which were either rejected or never realized.
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Among those rejected was a 2024 plan to open a shop, with the council emphasizing the importance of keeping the pub’s car park free to avoid road obstruction. Other proposals, such as demolishing the pub to build new homes or converting it into offices, also failed to gain approval. Additionally, a hand car wash and valeting service planned for the pub’s car park was denied for being poorly designed and unsuitable for the area.
With the transformation of John Owen House now moving forward, the community can look forward to much-needed supported living facilities while restoring a once-neglected building to purposeful use.