DUDLEY Council has spent almost £3million on buying two former private care home sites in Wollaston with the aim of boosting its social housing offering.

The cash-strapped council has confirmed it purchased the former Rosemary Retirement Home site in Vicarage Road for £1.9 million and the site of the former Woodlands Retirement Residence in Bridle Road for £960,000 - a total of £2,860,000.

It’s understood the council wants to turn the former Rosemary site into a house of multiple occupation (HMO), with the Woodlands site likely to be converted into three family homes to increase the council’s social housing provision.

Wollaston and Stourbridge Town councillor Andrew Tromans has said it’s vital that the views of residents are considered – after a previous plan to convert the Rosemary site into a 23-bedroom privately-run HMO was thrown out by Dudley Council planners after the plan sparked outrage.

Around 200 letters of objection and a petition with 136 signatures were submitted before the scheme was rejected in December 2023.

Cllr Tromans said: “It is vitally important that lessons are learned from the previous attempt, which was rejected by the local planning authority, to create a large HMO on Vicarage Road. Resident’s views must be considered when drawing up the plans for the former care homes and good quality homes with robust management in place should be provided. It remains my view that HMO-style accommodation would not be good for Wollaston.

“With more than 4,400 Dudley residents on the housing waiting list, as of August 9, and many more living in overcrowded accommodation, it is clear that additional social homes are needed but they must be well-considered so they blend in well with the existing community.”

Cllr Tromans said he has asked how the cash-strapped council could afford to buy the two care homes, located on two premium real estate plots in desirable locations while under spending controls, but said he has not received a satisfactory answer. On hearing how much the council has splashed out - he said: "That's a surprising development given the financial position of the council."

A spokesperson for Dudley Council confirmed when contacted by the News: “The purchase price for Rosemary Retirement Home in Vicarage Road was £1.9 million.

“The purchase price for the former Woodlands retirement home in Bridle Road was £960,000.

“Both buildings are to be used to provide social housing.”

It’s believed an architect has been appointed to prepare options and feasibility drawings for the sites and it is expected that members of the public will be able to voice their opinions on the plans via the planning process.

It’s understood the former Rosemary care home is deemed suitable for conversion to a HMO despite previous concerns; and it’s understood that there are no plans to demolish The Woodlands.

Information gleaned by the News indicates the plan is to convert the old care home back into family homes for non-vulnerable tenants – with 64a Bridle Road to become a large five/six-bedroom home and number 66 to be converted into two three-bedroom semi-detached homes.