Plans have been announced to convert Smethwick’s former Thimblemill Baths building into a multi-million pound primary care and community health centre.
The proposals, which are subject to planning permission, would preserve the Grade II listed building and see it continue to serve Smethwick residents in the future.
Under the plans, a number of local services would be based at the new centre, which would be fully accessible. Surrounding spaces would also be improved, with new trees, new paths, new signage and additional car parking spaces on site for staff and visitors.
Sandwell Council completed the sale of the site in Thimblemill Road to new owners in April – following a decision taken by the council’s Cabinet last year to sell it.
The new owners are local GPs from Norvic Family Practice based on Norman Road. They are now the freehold owners of the property and will be responsible for all development costs.
Thimblemill Baths, which opened in 1933, was more recently known as Smethwick Swimming Centre and closed in 2023 as part of a planned investment in new leisure facilities for the area when the state-of-the-art Sandwell Aquatics Centre opened to the public.
The plan to convert the building into a new health centre will be subject to planning permission and the council expects the new owners to submit an initial pre-planning application soon with a full planning application to follow.
In the meantime, security at the site has been stepped up following some break-ins and vandalism. Since the council sold the site, the new owners are now responsible for its security.
Dr Amandeep Suthi, from Norvic Family Practice, said: “We are excited to announce these proposals for the historic Thimblemill Baths building, which we know is much-loved by the local community.
“We are working with architects to design a sympathetic conversion of this Grade II listed building to restore it for public use, and we will provide more details as soon as we can.
“We have run out of clinical rooms at our current site in Norman Road so we can’t offer any more appointments than we already do. By moving to new premises, we will be able to offer more appointments in the future.”
Councillor Peter Hughes, Sandwell Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Infrastructure, said: “The council has worked hard to secure a positive future for this landmark building in Smethwick.
“I am delighted the sale is now complete – and I look forward to seeing the detailed design proposals for a conversion that promises to both preserve the building and benefit people’s health and wellbeing for many years to come.”