A FORMER Cradley Heath church could be turned into a HMO if proposals get the go-ahead.

An application to convert Lawrence Lane Methodist Church into a 12-bedroom House of Multiple Occupation has gone in to Sandwell Council.

The plan, from Dr Balbir Bhandal, of Bhandal Dental Surgeries, would see the former church converted into 12 bedrooms, with a shared kitchen, dining room, lounge, laundry room and five shower rooms.

There are ten car spaces on the car park.

The former church was listed for sale with a £240k price tag last November after closing due to falling worshipper numbers.

Notes to planners state: "Built in 1984, it has until recently been one of a group of fourteen churches on the western fringe of the West Midlands known as the Vale of Stour Methodist Circuit.

"The church has served a varied community and enjoyed a wide range of activities including support for food banks and many charities.

"The Methodist Church has shared in the numerical decline brought about by broad social and cultural changes over the last 35 years, whereby an older population with attachment to church is being replaced in the population by those who are not affiliated to a particular religion.

"Lawrence Lane Methodist Church is now vacant."

Halesowen News: The proposed layout of the HMO The proposed layout of the HMO (Image: Google)

It states that the "layout has been formulated to deliver residential accommodation while preserving and enhancing the character of the building."

New windows would be added - one to the front of the building and a series of new windows at the rear - with new fire doors added to each side of the building.

The application is for a change of use from a place of worship to a HMO.

It was registered by the council on April 17 and will be considered by planners.