Six-bedroom HMO plan thrown out after police and planners object

A plan for a house in multiple occupation (HMO) in Brierley Hill has been thrown out by Dudley Council. The application, for a mid-terrace house on Bank Street, was for a change of use from a four-bedroom dwelling to a six-bedroom HMO.

If approved the house would have been converted to provide two bedrooms on the ground floor, two bedrooms on the first floor and a further two in the attic space plus a shared lounge and kitchen on the ground floor. Applicants promised storage for bicycles in the garden but the lack of off-road parking for vehicles was a major concern for the council.

In a report for planners, case officer Sarah Wilkes said: “Due to the potential increase in residents with access to vehicles and no on-site parking provision, it is considered the development would promote additional on-street parking on a classified road with indiscriminate parking evident to the detriment of highway safety for both vehicular and pedestrian users.” The police also raised concerns about the plan, saying the house was in an area with existing crime problems.

READ MORE: Housing plan on historic Dudley site thrown out

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In the previous 12 months officers had recorded 50 cases of violent crime, 11 anti-social behaviour offences, three vehicle crimes and two burglaries within a mile of the post code of the property. Robert Mason, from West Midlands Police ’s Force Crime Reduction Unit, said: “This area is already in an IMPACT area, these are areas which have been identified as high crime/ high harm and high police demand locations, the borough of Dudley has two such areas.

“I believe increasing the number of residents and visitors will have an impact on community tension, and also having a six-bedroom will be out of character for the area. “Due to all of the above will see an increase in police demand especially around local neighbourhood policing teams.”

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