A landmark Wolverhampton building will be given a new lease of life when work starts this summer to bring it back into use after years of lying empty.

The historic Beckminster Lodge in Pennfields is in the grounds of Wolverhampton City Council-run offices at Beckminster House and is one of the most prominent buildings on Birches Barn Road. It has not been used for several years but will soon become home to a branch of the social services department of Wolverhampton City Council. 

News of the redevelopment has been welcomed by residents who say it has been left to lie empty for too long.

Wolverhampton Pensioners’ Convention chairman John Mellor, a retired police chief and former councillor who lives in Graiseley, said today: “I am absolutely delighted it is going to be brought back into use but I would still like to know why it has not been used for several years. 

“As far as I can remember it was the gatehouse for Beckminster House when it was a gentleman’s residence. 

“It is a nice property with nice grounds.

“I think the council bought the property some years ago and at one point there were some tenants in there.”

Council spokeswoman Felicity Roberts said: “We plan to refurbish Beckminster Lodge as office accommodation. 

“This is designed to bring the building back into use and create more space to deliver the services that are provided by staff based at Beckminster House. It is hoped that work on the refurbishment will start in the early summer.” 

The authority’s social services assessment centre has been based at Beckminster House for a number of years.