Former police training centre in Smethwick could become HMO under new plans
A former police training centre could be converted into a huge HMO.
A planning application has been submitted to Sandwell Council which would see the empty West Midlands Police training centre Windmill House in Windmill Lane, Smethwick, into a 76-bed house of multiple occupation (HMO).
The three-storey building, which dates back to the 1970s, had been used by the region’s police force as a training centre and accommodation until it closed last year.
The planning application by Kamraan Ahmed of Meizon Ltd said the building had recently been used as accommodation with police trainees transported to and from the force’s main Tally Ho Training Centre in Edgbaston, Birmingham.
The site’s 47 car park spaces would be reduced to 23 spaces as part of the work.
Windmill House was sold to MNP Investment Holdings in June last year as one of several West Midlands Police properties deemed ‘surplus to requirements.’
The planning application said the proposed HMO at Windmill House had been designed to support healthcare workers at the nearby Midland Metropolitan University Hospital which opened in 2024.
The surrounding area is being primed for regeneration with plans including hundreds of new homes and a new school.
Smethwick and Oldbury police stations were also put up for sale by West Midlands Police.
A statement included with the application said: “The project seeks to retrofit the existing 1970s utilitarian structure into a high-quality house of multiple occupation (HMO), delivering 76 rooms specifically tailored to the needs of key workers and young professionals.
“Strategically positioned just 500 metres from the Midland Metropolitan Hospital, the scheme is designed to directly support the local healthcare workforce by providing affordable, flexible accommodation in an area identified for regeneration.
“Each bedroom is designed to include an en-suite shower room, pull-down bed with sofa integration, workspace, and built-in storage.
“The existing [building] structure, which comprises a robust concrete frame and cladding system, will be fully retained.
“This approach significantly reduces embodied carbon and supports circular economy principles.
“As much of the internal fabric as possible will also be retained, with new layouts working within the constraints of the existing structural grid to avoid unnecessary demolition and construction.”
