A controversial plan to convert a Victorian terraced house into an eight-bed house of multiple occupation (HMO), which was thrown out by planners earlier this year, has been resubmitted with almost no changes, sparking fresh anger from residents.
Council rejection ignored as identical plans return
The application for the property on Cheshire Road in Smethwick was rejected by Sandwell Council in March 2025. Planners refused it due to significant concerns over parking problems, increased noise, and disturbance for neighbours. A petition signed by nearly 100 local residents supported the council's decision to block the development.
Despite this, the applicant, Karanjeet Singh from Nidh Properties, has now put forward a new, almost identical application. This has prompted a wave of further objections from people living nearby, who accuse the developer of a "blatant attempt to try and try again" in the hope of eventual approval.
Residents voice fears over parking and overcrowding
Local objections centre on the severe lack of parking in the area. One resident stated that from mid-afternoon, parking is at a premium on the street, which has no off-street parking. They warned that visitors to the proposed HMO would exacerbate the issue, with poor parking etiquette already blocking pavements for parents with buggies and disabled people.
The council's original rejection report highlighted critical flaws in the living conditions proposed. The plans showed:
- One shared kitchen for eight residents with no seating or fridge.
- Bedrooms mostly measuring between six and nine square metres, deemed only fit for a bed and wardrobe.
- A suggestion to use the basement as a shared space, which planners ruled would "not provide a suitable living environment."
Police and highways join chorus of objection
The proposal has drawn criticism from official bodies as well as residents. West Midlands Police objected to the original application, citing the lack of security plans in a high-crime rate area, the absence of parking, and concerns over overcrowding. The force has also objected to this latest submission.
Furthermore, the council's highways department warned that approving an HMO with no parking in such a congested street would set a dangerous precedent for the area. While acknowledging the need for affordable housing, the council concluded that the harm caused by the plans would outweigh any benefits.
In a notable detail, the council pointed out that the property could still be converted into a six-bed HMO without needing planning permission, under permitted development rights. The decision to pursue an eight-bed model, which requires consent, is at the heart of the ongoing dispute.
