Fresh plans in Willenhall £300k pub transformation
Fresh plans have been lodged to transform Willenhall's oldest pub in a £300,000 regeneration project.
A consortium that took over The Bell Inn withdrew a planning application last year so talks could take place on how to make it more financially viable.
The plan was to transform the Market Place building into a cafe and community centre.
Owners expect to resubmit proposals soon but new plans have been lodged for a first-floor flat, which would be rented out to help fund the community facility and deter vandals.
A new shop front, gates and external staircase leading to the flat would be installed under plans.
Restoration and repairs needed are outlined in a work schedule. Stan Taylor, of the consortium, said: "What we shall be doing is reconstructing the first floor to make a three-bedroom flat.
"The designs have been drawn up and the work has gone out to tender to find out the ultimate cost. We will hopefully be able to rent out the flat. That will give us an income to deal with the rest of the building.
"That will also mean an advantage that someone will live in the property. It will be important to prevent further vandalism. Most of the metal has been stripped out anyway.
"Once we get that off the ground, we can consider where to go with the ground floor."
He said the group hoped to secure about £150,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund's Townscape Heritage Initiative, adding: "We are quite hopeful we will be able to get the money.
"In the next month we will have the tenders in and know exactly how much it's going to cost."
The long-term plan is for the ground floor of the front wing to be a licensed café with the rear for community meeting and administration.
A report, sent with plans to Walsall Council, says bringing the derelict listed building back into use would initially involve making the building sound, wind and watertight and introducing the independent flat on first floor.
"Following completion of the scheme, which is the subject of the current application, it is proposed that re-application will be made for a licence for the ground floor café and community meeting and administration use will be accommodated at ground and first floor," it says.
Other members of the consortium, which bought the building, which is in a conservation area, for £40,000 at auction in 2010, include Rupy Pandaal, Wendy Evans and Ralph Jackson.
The building has oak beams in a former hay loft which date back to the 1580s.
