PLANS to convert a former children's centre in Oldbury into flats are still in the pipeline according to council bosses.

The former Sure Start Children's Centre on Greenwood Avenue has been empty since March 2018.

Sandwell Council's proposal to convert the building into four flats for temporary accommodation was approved last June, but so far work has not started.

This week the council said it still intends to convert the building into four self-contained flats, but that they may not be used for temporary accommodation for people being house in bed and breakfast and hotels, as originally intended.

Councillor Keith Allcock, Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for homes, said: “This building will be used as part of the council’s housing stock to support the need for more homes in Sandwell.

“The plan is still to convert it into four flats.

“Originally we were looking to use these for temporary accommodation – we are currently reviewing this to see how these homes can best support housing needs locally and will then be able to move forward with our plans.”

Halesowen News:

Plans were approved to convert it into self-contained flats to provide "short term housing accommodation for single people or families who find themselves without a permanent home through various reasons."

The design and access statement went on: "Currently Neighbourhoods has a number of people in these circumstances who are housed short term im bed and breakfast or hotel accommodation."

The idea was for the accommodation to be used by short-term tenants.

Plans noted that the windows would be replaced with UPVC and that funding would come from Sandwell Council's Neighbourhoods.

The buildings original use was as a telephone exchange.

The proposal can be viewed on Sandwell Council's online planning website under the reference DC/19/62964.