Inspector throws out HMO appeal after neighbours object

An appeal over whether to allow an Oldbury home to be converted into a HMO has been thrown out by a government planning inspector.

Sandwell Council rejected the application to convert the home in Wolverhampton Road, Oldbury, into a house of multiple occupation (HMO) for up to eight people in March.

An appeal was then lodged with the government’s planning inspectorate in a bid to get the decision overturned but an inspector threw out the appeal and agreed with Sandwell Council saying the proposed HMO would lead to more activity and added noise.

A total of 38 objections were made against the work before Sandwell Council’s planners decided on the application earlier this year.

Throwing out the appeal, the planning inspector said: “The proposed changes would increase the massing of the property and result in an unusually shaped side elevation, distinguishing the building from those around it.

“The works would considerably reduce the symmetry of the pair of semi-detached properties and would harm their appearance.

“The design would not be reflective of the predominant character of the area and would appear incongruous.

“The occupiers of a HMO would be more likely to live separate lives creating a greater number of comings and goings.

“The development would therefore increase the general level of activity at the site.”

Sandwell’s public health officers had objected to the application earlier this year saying the increase in people raised concerns about potential disturbance for neighbours.

“With multiple unrelated tenants, there is potential for frequent arrivals and departures at varying hours, including late at night and early in the morning,” the objection read. “This increased foot traffic, car movements, door slamming, conversations outside the property, and general activity raises concerns about disturbance, sleep disruption, and loss of residential amenity for neighbouring residential properties which may lead to complaint.”

The local authority’s planners also found concerns with the application saying it could lead to problems for neighbours.

Rejecting the application, the council added: “The application property is a modest semi-detached dwelling, where the existing level of activity would typically be associated with a single-family household in terms of noise, comings and goings, and the times at which these occur.

“In contrast, occupants of an HMO are likely to live largely independently of one another, resulting in an increase in the number and frequency of comings and goings, as well as visitors and deliveries.

“Consequently, given the number of proposed residents, the HMO use would give rise to increased noise and disturbance, to the detriment of the living conditions of neighbouring occupiers.”

By Christian Barnett | Local Democracy Reporting Service