Developers have submitted a planning application to Sandwell Council to transform the 143-year-old former Hallam Street Methodist Church in West Bromwich into modern flats.
Site Details and History
The church, located at the corner of Hallam Street and Lewisham Street since at least 1883, closed in 2020 amid the Covid-19 pandemic. It briefly reopened in 2023 before shutting down again in October 2024. Community clubs and exercise classes had ceased operations a few months prior.
Proposed Development
Under the new scheme, the main church building will divide into two-storey flats with two and three bedrooms. Several extensions will come down to make way for four four-bedroom terraced homes. The application, submitted by Avey Singh, emphasizes retention of the historic structure.
Shift from Earlier Plans
Previous proposals called for demolishing the church and building six new homes, but Sandwell Council planners and conservation officers objected due to the loss of this non-designated heritage asset. Officials recommended sympathetic designs that preserve existing materials and architecture.
The planning statement highlights the site’s status as previously developed land in a sustainable residential area, now vacant after ending worship services. It notes that the project evolved through consultations, adopting a heritage-led approach to retain and repurpose the church while redeveloping the rest of the site efficiently.
