Sandwell Council has granted permission to convert the historic Smethwick Conservative Club into a residential home for vulnerable children. The building, which has been a fixture on Smethwick High Street for over 100 years, will be repurposed to accommodate up to six children in need of care and protection.
West Midlands Police expressed reservations about the application, highlighting the club’s location in a “high crime” area and noting the absence of detailed management and security plans. The force’s design out crime officer emphasized the importance of these measures, stating, “Police often deal with missing children, and when these children are vulnerable and unfamiliar with the area, the risks increase significantly.”
The application, submitted by Empire House Children’s Home, described the building as previously operating as a members’ social club, active daily from 11 am to midnight. The premises are situated in a detached building at the end of a quiet residential cul-de-sac and feature a spacious, secluded garden designed to ensure safety and privacy. Additionally, the site offers four private parking spaces, alongside access to a public car park with 14 spaces directly opposite.
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While the council approved the plans in principle, the highways department cautioned that the public car park and on-street parking should not be considered part of the home’s facilities, as the operators would have no control over these areas.
The application also pointed out that the building’s current state is dilapidated, potentially becoming an eyesore and a magnet for anti-social behavior if left unused. “Given its previous role, the proposed children’s home would be appropriate for the location and an improvement over its former use,” the applicants stated. They added that the new residential purpose would reduce traffic and footfall in the area, enhancing safety and community wellbeing.
Bringing the property back into a residential capacity is seen as beneficial not only to the children who will live there but also to the surrounding neighborhood. The refurbishment aims to prevent the building from deteriorating further, which could lead to increased crime and fire hazards.