Councillor claims HMOs harm Brierley Hill community

A Dudley councillor says there are too many houses of multiple occupation in Brierley Hill which is harming the community.

Cllr Adam Davies posted comments on social media as he welcomed a decision by planners at the authority to refuse permission for a new HMO near the town centre.

The application, for conversion of three derelict buildings between High Street and Albion street into an 18-bedroom HMO, was turned down after planners made no mention of the volume of HMOs in the area but found the design was ‘unsympathetic’ to the character of the Victorian buildings.

Cllr Davies posted on Facebook: “We have consistently made the case that there are already too many HMOs in the local area and how this is having a negative effect on our communities.

“Yes we welcome appropriate development that has a positive impact and meets the needs of local people – but an over-concentration of overcrowded HMOs is far from what we need or want.”

In its comments on the application, West Midlands Police said the proposed HMO was in an area identified as an ‘impact area’ where demand on police resources would be high.

The force added a survey in 2022 revealed 46.5 percent of all crime in the borough of Dudley happened within a quarter-of-a-mile radius on an HMO.

The run-down buildings have been vacant since the early part of the century and have become what the Birmingham-based applicant described an ‘eyesore’. 

A statement supporting the application said: “The proposed HMO application the site offers a quality residential scheme that is well considered and designed to the location vernacular and pays homage to its historical context. 

“The scheme has been refined over months, adapting layouts and designs to fit the local character and site constraints, ultimately creating a suitable residential plan. 

“The need for housing and revitalizing the disused site justifies residential redevelopment, enabling the site’s regeneration and improvement to the local area. 

“This development will also have a positive impact on the local community.”   

 Another ward councillor, Cllr Wayne Little, also objected to the plan, he said: “The application’s lack of detail on parking, refuse management and amenity space, combined with West Midlands Police’s objections, provides compelling grounds for refusal.”