Windmill House 32 Windmill Lane Smethwick B66 3LX Data via plota.co.uk

Proposal

Proposed change of use from former police training centre with residential quarters to 69 No. bedroom (single occupancy) co-living accommodation with ground floor infill extension, roof terrace to first floor, external render, fenestration alterations and associated works. (Revision to refused planning permission DC/25/71289) Data via plota.co.uk

View original council record ↗Last checked

Application progress

✓
Received
6 Aug 2026
✓
Validated
1 Sept 2026
✓
Consultation
1 Sept 2026
✗
Refused
9 Oct 2026
Appeal
Not lodged

Refused on 9 Oct 2026 · Delegated Decision · Last checked 10 Oct 2026

Documents 42

Consultation & comments 11

All documents on the council site ↗

Associated applications 2

Site constraints 7

Air quality management area: Sandwell AQMA
The council has declared the area as failing an air quality objective.
Schemes that add traffic, parking or combustion plant are assessed against the area's action plan and may need an air quality assessment.
Council record ↗
Habitat network: Network Enhancement Zone 2
Where habitat is joined up enough to work as a network. Context, not a constraint on its own.
Also on the record
1 listed building within 150 m; Nature improvement area: Birmingham and the Black Country; Coalfield, development low risk area; Inside the Smethwick built-up area; Heritage at risk 92 m away: Church of St Matthew and St. Chads, Windmill Lane, Smethwick.
Not affected
Outside flood zones 2 and 3 · Not green belt · No scheduled monument at the site

Checked on 6 October 2026. Historic England, the Environment Agency, Natural England, the Mining Remediation Authority and council datasets, Open Government Licence. A boundary can run through a site and the council holds the definitive record: confirm with the council before relying on this.

Building

Floor area2,591 m² (27,889 sq ft)
Energy ratingD (asset rating 80)
UseOthers - Emergency services
HeatingHeating and Natural Ventilation

From the energy performance certificate lodged in January 2017, the latest held for this property. The building may have changed since. View the certificate

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Important details

Council
Sandwell
Application type
Change of Use
Postcode
B66 3LX
Received
6 Aug 2026
Validated
1 Sept 2026
Ward
Soho & Victoria
Case officer
Show
Target decision
27 Oct 2026
Decision
Refuse permission
Decision date
9 Oct 2026
Decision level
Delegated Decision
Applicant
Show
Agent
PJ Planning

How this decision compares

Decided in 38 days from validation, 17 days faster than Sandwell's median of 55 for changes of use. Refused, as 17% of changes of use here are.

59%decided within 8 weeks
83%approved
6%go to committee

Plota live figures for changes of use decided by Sandwell in the last twelve months, from validation. Sandwell decision record →

Public comments

311comments received
310 objecting1 neutral

100% object · above the UK average of 74%

291 neighbours consulted · Last counted 10 Oct 2026

Read the comments on the council site ↗

Consultation & key dates

Alt. reference
PP-15130636
Planning Portal ref
PP-15130636
Neighbours
1 Sept 2026
Consultation
1 Sept 2026
Comments by
1 Oct 2026
Site or press notice
1 Sept 2026
Statutory expiry
27 Oct 2026
Env. assessment
No
Sandwell
Planning Authority Score
5/10
Average
#149 of 296 councils
Relevant to this application:
Change of use

Sandwell ranks #131 out of 296 councils for householder decision speed. Householder applications are slightly less likely to be approved here (88%) than the national average (90%).

These figures are council-wide context, not a prediction for this application. View full council performance
Sandwell decision statistics
Based on MHCLG data, the year to March 2026
86%
Overall approval rate
Below avg (87%) #198 of 296
88%
Householder approved
Below avg (90%) #223 of 296
69%
Decided in 8 weeks
Above avg (63%) #131 of 296
34%
Extended time limit
Below avg (41%) #92 of 296
80%
Minor dwellings approved
44 decided (1-9 homes)
100%
Major dwellings approved
15 decided (10+ homes)
78%
Change of use approved
46 decided
909
Total decisions
124 refused in the year to March 2026

Freehold boundary: © Crown copyright and database rights 2026, HM Land Registry. Polygons © Crown copyright and database rights 2026 Ordnance Survey 100026316. Conditions of use

Energy performance: Energy performance certificates from the Energy Performance of Buildings Register, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright 2026.