HISTORIC Corngreaves Hall in Cradley Heath has been sold to developers and will be converted into homes.

Hopes that the grade 2* listed building in Corngreaves Road would be restored to its former glory open to the community have been dashed.

The freehold has been transferred from Sandwell Council to property developer GR8 Space Ltd for restoration.

Cllr Ian Jones, Cabinet member for jobs and economy, claimed the building is uneconomical to restore.

As part of the deal the restoration work and conversion has to be complete by the end of 2012 and the developer has already started work on the site to protect the crumbling building.