Eyesore former West Bromwich club to be turned into flats and cafe
An eyesore former club in West Bromwich town centre will soon be converted into new flats and a cafe after receiving the backing of council planners.
Sandwell Council has approved the plans to convert the tired and dilapidated former Oasis nightclub in West Bromwich High Street into 12 new flats and a ‘social hub’ cafe and children’s play area.
The plans by Bobby Dhillon were criticised by the local authority’s planners over a lack of information and have since gone through several revisions after being submitted at the start of the year.
The former Explosion Club and Bar opened in the mid-2000s and it was then converted into the Oasis Sports Bar and Nightclub before closing a few years later where it has remained empty since.
The original application included 14 flats – a mix of 11 studio, two one-bed flats and a two-bed flat – but that was revised down to include eight studio flats, two one-bed and two two-bed flats.
The work includes two-storey rear extensions, a loft conversion, dormers and balconies.
The council’s planners said they were “concerned” by the lack of information and inaccuracies in the original plans – especially as the former club, despite being an eyesore, sat within the conservation area attached to the grade II listed St Michael and the Holy Angels Church – the oldest church in West Bromwich town centre.
The original plans were also criticised by the council’s planners for being overbearing and at odds with neighbouring buildings.
More detail plans were submitted, and the size of the rear extension reduced, which the council’s planners welcomed and said “sat more comfortably” than the previous designs.
A statement included with the application said: “The project aims to regenerate the area by transforming the space into residential units for families upstairs and commercial shop downstairs, creating job opportunities and revitalising the community.
“On the ground floor, the development will house a café and a children’s play area, enhancing the community feel and providing essential services for residents and visitors. The café will serve as a social hub, while the play area will ensure that families have safe and encouraging spaces for their children.
“This proposed building design represents a significant step towards revitalising West Bromwich High Street, providing much needed housing and commercial opportunities while prioritising accessibility and environmental sustainability.”
