Former Salvation Army hostel to become rental homes

A former Salvation Army hostel in Birmingham's Gun Quarter is set to be converted into rental homes, as developers look for new ways to bring empty buildings back into use.

MCR Property Group has acquired the 46,000 square foot William Booth Centre on Shadwell Street, along with the adjoining Sanctuary building, and plans to turn them into build-to-rent homes, subject to planning permission.

Close to the city centre

The buildings are a short walk from the city's central business district and the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. The Gun Quarter, north of Snow Hill station, was once the centre of Birmingham's gun-making industry and is home to a mix of workshops, offices and new apartments.

What the developer said

Martin Brown, director of commercial and the Midlands at MCR Property Group, said: "Birmingham needs more homes, and bringing existing buildings back into use has an important part to play in meeting that demand."

The company says it specialises in identifying underused buildings and refurbishing them for long-term residential use. The final design and the number of homes will be developed as the proposals progress.

About the William Booth Centre

The William Booth Centre was run by the Salvation Army as a hostel for people experiencing homelessness before it fell out of use. It is named after William Booth, the Methodist preacher who founded the Salvation Army in London in 1865. The Salvation Army continues to support homeless people in Birmingham and across the country.

Converting buildings

Converting existing buildings into homes can be quicker and use less carbon than demolishing them and building from scratch, because much of the energy and material used in construction is already in the existing structure. Birmingham's new Local Plan encourages the re-use of existing buildings as part of its focus on brownfield land.

However, conversions can be complicated. Older buildings may need major work to meet modern standards for fire safety, energy efficiency, sound insulation and accessibility.

Build-to-rent

Build-to-rent homes are designed specifically for renting and are usually owned and managed by a single company. Birmingham has become one of the biggest markets for build-to-rent outside London, with thousands of flats completed in recent years, many in and around the city centre.

Supporters say build-to-rent offers professional management and longer tenancies. Critics say the rents are often too high for many local people.

Rents in Birmingham

The average private rent in Birmingham was 1,099 pounds a month in August, according to the Office for National Statistics, up 3 per cent on a year earlier. Average rents for one-bedroom homes were 830 pounds a month.

Planning

The plans will need planning permission from Birmingham City Council. Once an application is submitted, residents and businesses will be able to view the plans and comment through the council's planning website.

Empty buildings

Birmingham, like many cities, has a number of empty or underused buildings, including former offices, shops and public buildings. Changes in the way people work and shop since the pandemic have left some city centre offices and retail units vacant, and converting them into homes is seen as one way of making better use of them while meeting housing demand.

Office to homes rules

Some changes of use from offices or shops to homes can go ahead under what are called permitted development rights, without a full planning application. However, those homes must still meet minimum space and natural light standards, introduced after concerns about the quality of some conversions in the past.