Planners in Wolverhampton have approved a controversial scheme to convert a former pub in Willenhall into a House of Multiple Occupation (HMO).
A Decision Between a Rock and a Hard Place
The city council's planning committee made the decision on the former Falcon Inn on Gomer Street West during a meeting on Thursday, January 15, 2026. Members described themselves as being in a difficult position, as the building's owners already hold a valid permission from 2024 to create a larger, 12-bedroom HMO on the site.
Applicant Satnam Sira informed the committee that if the newer application for a 10-bed HMO was refused, they would proceed with the existing 12-bed permission. This left councillors weighing the impact of a smaller development against a larger one.
Local Opposition and Community Concerns
The plans faced significant local resistance. A petition organised by Willenhall South ward councillor Simran Cheema gathered 375 signatures against the conversion.
Councillor Cheema argued at the meeting that the local WV13 postcode already contains 12 licensed HMOs. She expressed the community's "serious and genuine" worries about being overwhelmed, stating, "We can’t keep approving HMOs one-by-one then act surprised when communities are overwhelmed."
The pub, which closed to the public in April 2022, has suffered from a series of problems since its closure, including flooding, fire, and metal thefts. It was subsequently sold at auction for £215,000 in 2024.
Approval Granted for Smaller Scheme
Despite the objections, the committee ultimately voted to approve the application for a 10-bedroom HMO. The approved scheme involves splitting the property into two separate five-bedroom HMOs, one on the ground floor and one on the first floor.
Deputy leader Councillor Mark Statham acknowledged the dilemma, saying, "Councillor Cheema rightly points out the negative impacts, but the negative impacts of a 12-bed is more than that of a 10-bed. We’re caught between a rock and hard place. The back stop position for the applicant, should we refuse it, is they’ll revert back to the 12-bed. You’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t."
The committee concluded that a 10-bed HMO represented an improvement for residents compared to the alternative. Crucially, the new approval does not invalidate the previous 12-bed permission, meaning the developer can choose to implement either scheme.
