Investment unlocks regeneration plans for two historic buildings

Plans to regenerate another two historic buildings - the Victorian-built Globe House in Walsall and the derelict former Erdington Baths in Birmingham - have been unlocked by fresh investments from the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).

As part of its nationally acclaimed brownfield regeneration and housing delivery programme, and using funds secured in the 2018 Housing Deal, the WMCA board has agreed in principle to make investments that will kick-start both schemes, breathing new life into the historic buildings and creating more than 150 jobs and 35 new homes in the heart of Erdington and Walsall.

The Erdington scheme will see the 'landmark ' former swimming baths in Mason Road, transformed into an enterprise and community hub with community facilities including a restaurant and caf�.

The Erdington baths, which are almost 100 years old, have stood empty since they were closed in 2014.

Witton Lodge Community Association (WLCA) has submitted exciting plans for a multi-million-pound regeneration that will turn it into a multi-use site with an emphasis on helping small businesses and entrepreneurs.

The ornate Globe House in Walsall, a Grade II listed building in Bradford Place, will be converted from offices into 35 apartments.

At least 20 per cent of the apartments will be classed as affordable under the WMCA 's own definition, which is linked to real world, local wages rather than property prices.

Globe House, which was constructed in 1888 to mark the previous year 's Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria, was used as a college for more than a century before being converted into offices.

This new conversion to apartments will create a new use for the building and support the WMCA Housing and Land Board policy of encouraging town centre living through its brownfield investments.

Both projects are the latest in a series of WMCA housing and land investments using funds secured since 2017 from Government to provide new homes, jobs and commercial spaces on urban, brownfield sites, helping to support the region 's economic recovery from Covid 19 and to unlock private investment while reducing pressure on the green belt.

The board 's decision will now trigger detailed negotiations between the WMCA and the developers to finalise the critical investment deals needed to unlock and deliver the schemes.

The WMCA is working in close partnership with Birmingham City Council to bring forward the Erdington Baths scheme and with Walsall Council and Black Country LEP on the Globe House project.

West Midlands mayor Andy Street said: “With the investments we are making into both Erdington Baths and Globe House, we are helping to transform derelict sites into thriving centres of local life bringing much needed jobs and homes into the very heart of these communities.

“It is great news that at the same time as we are getting this vital regeneration underway, we are preserving these beautiful heritage buildings for future generations to enjoy - building on our backing of the sensitive restoration of two historic buildings on Corporation Street in Birmingham.

“Across the West Midlands, with the public, private and third sector working together in partnership, we are unlocking the potential of previously neglected locations to supercharge our region 's development - creating jobs for local residents and protecting the greenbelt. ”

Pictured: The Victorian-built Globe House will be transformed into 35 apartments