A £500,000 plan to build a new visitors centre at historic Halesowen Abbey has been unveiled today.

The scheme put forward by landowner Chris Tudor also includes converting the derelict barns into six new homes, and building a car park for visitors.

Ward councillor Alan Taylor said he knew the proposals would be controversial, but thought they offered the best option for preserving the Victorian barns. He said: “If you don’t do anything these buildings would just fall down. It would take a lot of money to keep them in good condition.

“Few people have the money to do that without getting any return.

“When we first heard about the plans we had a great many reservations, as I’m sure many others will – but this way, the buildings will be preserved with very few changes to the outside.

“Having carried out the necessary inspections and having examined the plans carefully, we think it will be all right and we are quite happy with it now.”

The plans show how the barns would be altered internally to build four two-bedroomed and two three-bedroomed houses, with parking in the current courtyard between the barns.

A separate car park would also be provided for people going to the visitors’ centre, which would have various items of historical interest on show.

Councillor Taylor said: “There have been some test pits done and they found nothing of archaeological interest at the depths the building work would go to. Providing all groundworks are done under strict supervision to ensure nothing of importance is disturbed, it will be fine,” he added.

Similar proposals were put forward in 2002 to turn the barns into offices and homes, sparking outrage from historians who feared the building work would destroy precious ruins lying underneath the barns, and could jeopardise the site’s potential as a tourist attraction.

Objections have already been received to the new plans. One resident, from the nearby Hartsbourne Drive, said: “I see this as the thin end of the wedge to have further building in due course.”