Senior NHS doctor wants to convert historic Walsall building in 17-bed HMO
A senior doctor has submitted plans to convert a historic Walsall building into a 17-bedroom House of Multiple Occupation.
Sue Boden at the Walsall NHS Trust hopes to convert Hatherton House into ‘quality accommodation for NHS staff’.
Ms Boden said, ‘by her own experience’, high quality accommodation is ‘lacking in the area’.
The mid-19th Century building is located within the Lichfield Street Conservation area.
It was once a nursery and donned huge colourful polka-dots from around 2013, before being returned to the classic white façade in 2018.
It went up for sale in early 2024 inviting offers in the region of £495,000. Its final use was offices for the company Skills Training UK.
The latest plan for the Hatherton Street building involves 17 bedrooms, six of which have en-suites. The remaining 11 have shared toilet and washing facilities.
The ground floor offers a utility room, the first floor a study room, and both floors have a shared kitchen. Fourteen car parking spaces are available on site.
The applicant said the external fabric of the building will be retained, with only minor, reversible alterations made.
Agent En-plan said: “The works will have a positive impact upon the character and setting of the heritage asset by bringing the building back into use and stopping the further erosion of the building by lack of maintenance.
“The scheme respects the architectural character and heritage value of the building and the wider conservation area. It provides much-needed housing accommodation in a sustainable, town-centre location.”
