In 2025, a wave of determined community opposition across Birmingham successfully challenged the spread of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), leading to several high-profile planning refusals. Residents, citing issues from saturation and anti-social behaviour to parking and waste management, made their voices heard through petitions, objections, and direct appeals to council planners.
Handsworth Scheme Rejected After Locals Say 'Take it to Sutton Coldfield'
A controversial plan to create a 14-bed supported housing unit in Handsworth was thrown out following fierce local resistance. The proposal targeted a former hostel just off Holliday Road, near Soho Road. Fed-up residents bluntly suggested the developer should 'Take it to Sutton Coldfield' instead, highlighting a deep-seated fatigue with such developments in their area.
Objections centred on a perceived saturation of similar facilities, concerns about anti-social behaviour, and the overall impact on the neighbourhood. Birmingham City Council's planners ultimately refused the application, siding with the community's stance.
Erdington Petition Gathers Nearly 400 Signatures
In Erdington, an application to convert a family home on Mason Road into a five-bed HMO was met with substantial organised opposition. Nearly 400 people signed a petition against the plan, while 50 neighbours submitted formal objections.
Local MP Paulette Hamilton strongly backed the campaign, stating there were already an estimated 180 HMOs in the constituency and declaring that "no more are welcome here." Following the council's decision to reject the application, Mrs Hamilton hailed it as 'a resounding victory for our community and a clear message that enough is enough.'
Acocks Green Proposal Binned Over Multiple Concerns
Plans to convert a house on Alexander Road in Acocks Green into an HMO were also scrapped after receiving more than 14 objections from concerned neighbours. The list of issues raised was extensive and included:
- Increased pressure on parking and traffic.
- Fears about rising crime and a general 'fear of crime'.
- Problems with waste management and noise.
- The negative impact of an over-concentration of HMOs in the locality.
City planners agreed with these assessments, concluding the development would have an unacceptable adverse impact on the area and refusing permission.
A Year of People Power
The consistent theme throughout 2025 was the effectiveness of organised community action. The phrase 'We've had enough' became a common rallying cry as residents engaged directly with the planning process. While HMO applications continue to be a feature of Birmingham's housing landscape, these cases from 2025 demonstrate that well-articulated, collective opposition can and does influence planning decisions, providing a blueprint for other communities concerned about similar developments.
