Former West Bromwich Building Society HQ up for auction at £2.5m

The landmark building, which has been in the town High Street for nearly 40 years, could be turned into new homes.

The iconic six-storey building is set go under the hammer next month with auctioneers Allsop. It has a guide price of £2.5million.

It was built in 1978 and until April this year was home to staff, before they were relocated to the new company headquarters on Providence Place.

Councillors have welcomed that the building could be turned into new homes, which Sandwell needs,

Councillor Preet Gill, for St Paul's Ward, said: "I think it is always important that empty buildings aren't just left to become derelict.

"It is positive that the building is on the market. It will no doubt attract buyers and will be developed.

"The move is positive for West Bromwich given all the development that has happened there."

The building is located in the heart of a £1billion regeneration in West Bromwich. There has been a company headquarters based in High Street since 1849.

It has six floors and compromises of nearly 45,000 sq ft of office space.

Inside there are two 10-person lifts, a staff canteen and central heating.

The building can be rented out as a whole, on a floor-by-floor basis, or in smaller suites.

The auction will take place at The Park Lane Hotel, Piccadilly, London, on July 6.

Councillor Paul Sandars said: "Hopefully the developers make affordable housing, if the building will be converted into residential properties then I'm sure they will be affordable. We need new homes in Sandwell.

"When I think of new residential properties I think of parking so hopefully developers will take that into consideration too."

The West Brom's new headquarters is a 70,000 sq ft building located less than half a mile away.

West Brom spokesman Nick Trueman said: "The old headquarters wasn't meeting the needs for our businesses practically.

"We had outgrown it, some of our offices were based off site because the building couldn't accommodate them.

"Our new headquarters gives us space to grow and expand our business and build into the future."

Its development forms part of the massive regeneration of the town.

The new building is five storeys tall and features state-of-the-art ventilation, heating and lighting control systems to minimise energy consumption.

More than 400 staff are now housed in the building, which is situated off the A41 island and next to the BT regional business centre.