Hams Hall RoundHouse
Originally built during the second world war. Was designed to take a direct bomb hit. It was the central control room for all the power station site substations – 11kV, 33kV, 132kV, 275kV & 400 kV, but only direct control of 'B' power station {A & C had their own. All the switching of the substations and control of B station output could be controlled from here under instruction from GECB Grid Control {West Heath) & MEB Area Contol (Summer Lane).
The building also housed Hams Hall B station Instrument Maintenance department (downstairs) and Birmingham Transmission District (then at Waterloo Road) had a workshop above.
With the closure of the Power Stations, the 132kV and lower voltage substations were no longer needed. The Supergrid Substations (275 & 400 kV) in Hams Lane became operated locally and the RounHouse became redundant. The building was made safe and just left as you saw. Now, following vandalism the building has been taken over by bats, and as such now protected, which is why no one can now visit it.
I am aware of this place, because at one time I was Control Engineer at Hams Hall B and later I worked in the metering & telecom section at Birmingham Transmission District.