£350k restoration to protect council house underway

The historic site was once the main base for councillors in Smethwick and is now used by Sandwell Council officers and by the Black Country coroner.

Former office blocks at the back of the property will be removed as part of the scheme and workers have already moved to other council sites.

Historians in the area have welcomed the project saying it will protect a vital part of the town's heritage.

A planning application has been submitted by Sandwell Council to demolish nine buildings at the site. The buildings, based behind the council house off Smethwick high street, would be cleared under the proposals.

Historian Chris Sutton, who works with Smethwick Heritage Centre, said the building is an important landmark in the town.

"We welcome any plans for the council house to be done up as it is an important building," he said.

"It is very positive that it will be done up to be used to its full capacity and we would support that."

The council house retains many period features inside its ornate council chamber including busts and paintings.

Smethwick Council House is used as a local area office and for housing inquires. It is also used to hold inquests by the office of the Black Country coroner.

Deputy council leader, Councillor Steve Eling, said work was already progressing to transform the site.

"The block of offices were identified as no longer fit for purpose and staff who occupied them have been relocated to a number of other council facilities," he said.

"The council is now in the process of demolishing the rear buildings and will undertake essential repairs to the listed Council House building which will be sustained as a local landmark asset.

"Smethwick Council House continues to support a number of services, including housing services and will be the base for the Smethwick locality team as part of the council's new initiative to provide access to all services through one point of contact."

Essential repairs have already started at the site this week. They include structural repairs to stonework of the building, roofing repairs, fire precaution works and general internal maintenance.

Councillors have estimated the cost of the first stage of the scheme to be around £350,000. A decision on the planning application, which also includes removing a fire escape link bridge behind the council house, will be taken in the coming weeks.

Work to Smethwick Council House marks the latest in a line of heritage projects currently taking place in the borough.

But two such projects were dealt a blow in recent weeks after a construction firm behind the works entered administration.

Lightwoods House and Park in nearby Bearwood is in the middle of a major £5.2 million revamp, which has been five years in the making.

However heritage project specialists Fairhurst Ward Abbotts Ltd, which was carrying out the work, collapsed earlier this month. The firm is known for working on prestigious projects including Windsor Castle, Chatsworth and The Victoria and Albert Museum.

Heritage Lottery Fund and Big Lottery Fund are funding £3.6m towards the project under the Parks for People Programme, with Sandwell Council funding £1.6m.

This week Sandwell Council said 'positive talks' were taking place with administrators and there were hopes that part of the business could be saved.

If that happened, work could soon resume on the project. But work is now on hold.

Fairhurst Ward Abbotts was also due to start a £125,000 project to restore the rare viewing tower at the 500-year-old Oak House in West Bromwich. This scheme is also now on hold.

But one scheme that has been completed successfully was a £6.4m restoration of Dartmouth Park, in West Bromwich.

The park's revamp was launched seven years ago by Sandwell Council, which secured a £4m Lottery grant with the help of a newly-formed Friends of Dartmouth Park Group.

Works were completed last year with a new pavilion, pools and play areas, and a sensory garden for the visually impaired.

A replica fountain to match the original 1800s model was also created and flowerbeds replanted.