Plans to transform vacant Erdington, Birmingham pub into 'community centre'

A vacant pub in Erdington could soon be transformed into a “community centre” if plans are given the green light.

The future of Cross Keys pub has been uncertain since its closure in 2017, with previous proposals to turn it into a HMO and flats being refused in the past.

Plans lodged by Erdington Islamic Foundation (EIF) to turn the pub into a “local community and education centre with ancillary prayer facility” have now been recommended for approval, ahead of a planning committee next week.

If approved, the ground floor is set to include two multi-use halls while the first floor could have four classrooms, a meeting room, library, office and staff kitchen. A council officer’s report adds: “Hardstanding would be provided within the existing beer garden to provide sixteen parking spaces, one motorcycle space, cycle storage and a bin store.”

The report continues that 36 letters of support were received as well as a petition with 701 signatures, noting the possible social benefits and lack of community facilities in the area.

Meanwhile 35 objections were received, in addition to a petition with 243 signatures, which raised issues such as the “loss of a public house” and “increased noise and public nuisance”.

However, the council officer’s report noted: “The proposed community facilities would perform social and community functions to mitigate the loss of the public house, which has been unable to perform such functions since its closure in 2017.”

On concerns over noise, it continued: “The impact of the proposed use would be unlikely to be significantly greater than the baseline conditions for noise and disturbance which currently exist.

“Although early morning and late evening prayers would take place during the summer, these would be attended by only a small numbers of people.”

The Erdington Islamic Foundation website says its vision is to foster an “outstanding community”.

It adds it wants to set up a community and education centre for all – not just a place for prayers. The council officer’s report went on to conclude that the loss of the public house “is acceptable in policy terms”.

“The proposed development would not result in significant harm to the area’s visual amenity, the residential amenity of surrounding occupiers, the heritage assets within or in proximity of the site or the functioning of the local highways network,” it continued.

“Significant weight is provided in favour of the application through its tangible public benefits, comprising the securing of a long-term community use for a vacant building of historic value.”

It went on to recommend the plans for approval, subject to conditions – including one which limits hours of operation and another for prayer sessions to take place within multi-use halls only.

The council officer’s report states that the latter condition would help “ensure that the prayer function is not able to expand into the basement or upper storey rooms or become a dominant use without further authority from the council.”

The planning application will be considered by Birmingham City Council’s planning committee on Thursday, April 25.