West Bromwich Town Hall & Central Library

The West Bromwich Town Hall and Central Library stands at the heart of the town’s civic centre. Built in 1874-75, this Grade II listed building is rich in heritage, but had deteriorated significantly. The building’s exterior was in a very poor condition, with leaking roofs, rotten windows and crumbling stonework. Without these items being restored, the building was unlikely to remain in use and that would threaten the future of this heritage asset.

APEC was initially appointed by Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council to survey the buildings and identify the scope of works required to restore them. Following a competitive tender process, the Design and Build contract was awarded to Morgan Sindall, and APEC was appointed by Morgan Sindall as the architect and Principal Designer.

For the exterior of the building we had to carefully assess every individual repair need. Each element was then approached with a tailored plan, drawing on traditional materials, heritage skills and good conservation practice.

The project focused on essential external repairs: reroofing, masonry and terracotta conservation, window refurbishment and even the design of a new finial to replace one that had been missing since 1916. Through archival research and specialist craftsmanship, the missing finial was recreated and added back to the building.

Throughout the work, our team worked alongside a wide range of heritage craftspeople. Sustainability was key and where possible original materials were retained and reused, combined with good conservation practice to ensure longevity.

The main purpose of the scheme was to safeguard this important listed building for future generations. While budget constraints limited internal refurbishments, a Changing Places facility was installed to improve the building’s accessibility.

Beyond the physical restoration, the project has had a wide social impact, offering apprenticeships, school engagement programmes and placements through Morgan Sindall’s social value strategy.

• 50% of the supply chain spend was within 20 miles of the project
• The refurbishment project generated over £3m in social value for the community
• 135 local crafts and trades people were involved

A model of collaboration between local authorities, contractors, and consultants, it shows what can be achieved when public heritage is treated not just as history, but as a living asset for the community.

The project was awarded the Victorian Society’s 2024 Conservation Award.

This award recognises an outstanding renovation or conservation project on a building that dates from between 1837-1914, within the West Midlands group of the Victorian Society.

The project has also been recognised in the following awards:

• Pitched Roofing Awards 2025 – ‘Best Use of a Heritage Roof’ Category – Winner
• Brick Awards 2025 – ‘Refurbishment’ Category – Shortlisted

To see more about this restoration in action, view Morgan Sindall’s project video.