Multi-million-pound plans to convert a former care home into new affordable council homes have been given the go ahead.

Dudley Council has been granted planning permission to convert New Swinford Hall in Stourbridge into 18 apartments with either one or two bedrooms.

New Swinford Hall was used previously by the council to provide stepdown accommodation for people well enough to leave hospital but not well enough to return home. The new homes will be built within the existing shell of the building and the exterior given a modern makeover, as revealed in images of the new development.

All 18 apartments will be available to rent to people on the council’s housing waiting list and will advertised nearer completion. The project is expected to cost in the region of £2 million. Councillor Laura Taylor-Childs, cabinet member for housing and community services, said:

"As we continue our efforts to provide affordable homes in our borough, we need to explore every option available to us.

"New Swinford Hall has been out of use for some time and although it was no longer suitable for its previous use, it does provide a perfect opportunity for housing.

"We are able to repurpose an existing council building, which not only reduces the build costs for the council but also offers carbon savings. This is about making the best use of every asset we have available to us and providing much-needed homes for people in our borough.

"We’ve seen other examples where this has worked really well including the redevelopment of the former Mount Pleasant Junior School in Coseley."

Work will start on site in Spring 2022 and is expected to take up to 12 months to complete.

This is one of a number of projects currently planned for 2022 as part of Dudley Council’s commitment to providing new council homes in the borough.