Plan to turn Dudley asylum protest hotel into 'residential institution'

The Ward Arms Hotel in Dudley was frequently targeted by demonstrators last year amid online rumours that asylum seekers were being housed there, despite repeated denials from the authorities.

The hotel’s owners have now applied for ‘flexible planning permission’, which would allow it to be used either as a hotel or as a residential institution.

If approved, the plans would allow the building in Birmingham Road to be used as a hospital, nursing home, boarding school, or residential college or training centre.

It could also be used to house people in need of personal care “by reason of old age, disability, past or present dependency on alcohol or drugs, or past or present mental disorder”.

The C2 classification, which the developer is seeking, can also apply to children’s homes and medical care.

A statement from Apse Building Design, on behalf of the applicant, said no alterations were planned for the fabric of the building.

“The proposal represents the continued occupation of an existing building that already provides overnight accommodation,” said the statement.

“Both uses provide residential-style accommodation with on-site management and supervision. The proposal therefore represents a compatible alternative use within the existing building.”

It said the plans made efficient use of an existing site without requiring additional land or physical expansion.

“Providing flexibility between the two use classes allows the building to respond to changing market demand while ensuring its continued occupation and maintenance,” it said.

“The appearance of the building will remain exactly as existing and therefore the proposal will have no impact upon the street scene or local character.”

The application said there would be no adverse impact on neighbours, or on parking and access arrangements, as a result of the change.

The 72-bedroom hotel, which opened in 1927, took its name from the town’s Ward family, which was first granted the Barony of Dudley in 1643 - and may have been to mark the centenary of John William Ward being made Earl of Dudley in 1827.

In more recent years it was marketed, first as the Quality Hotel, and then as the Superior Hotel before its closure in 2021.

It was later acquired by LHA Housing Group, and was block booked by Birmingham City Council to provide temporary accommodation to people on its waiting lists.

Rumours abounded that it was being used to house asylum seekers, despite repeated denials from both Dudley Council and the Home Office.

Councillor Patrick Harley, leader of Dudley Council, said he understood people’s frustrations, adding that it caused similar difficulties to asylum hotels.

“People put two and two together and come up with a different number,” he said.

“It’s unfortunate, but I can absolutely understand why people make that perception.

“It’s to do with the image of people, how they look, the fact that the hotel is all boarded up, the fact that you can't book a room here for the night.”

He said last year he would like to see the hotel return to its original use of providing accommodation for people visiting the town’s attractions.

It closed completely last year.

The proposals will now be considered by Dudley Council’s planning department.