The former ambulance depot at Jubilee House on Bloxwich Lane will not become an eight-bedroom house in multiple occupation (HMO) without a fresh and more detailed planning application, Walsall Council has ruled.
Ad Hoc Property Management Ltd had asked for prior approval to change the use of the vacant building. Its proposal outlined eight accommodation units, two kitchens, five toilet areas and one shower area, with no physical alterations to the existing structure.
The company stated that the temporary HMO would help secure the site. “The use of an HMO is for security purposes, to maintain the fabric of the building, to prevent antisocial behaviour in the local community, all whilst providing affordable temporary accommodation,” it said.
Council says full application is needed
Refusing the prior approval application, Walsall Council said the proposal would require a full planning application. The decision means the streamlined permitted development route cannot be used for this change of use.
Prior approval is a lighter-touch process that allows certain changes of use, such as office to residential, without a full planning application. However, councils can refuse prior approval if they consider that the matter requires a more comprehensive assessment, including issues like local amenity, traffic, and the suitability of the accommodation.
In this case, the council’s response indicates that the proposed conversion is not eligible for prior approval, and that the developer must instead submit a detailed planning application that would be subject to public scrutiny and committee decision.
A building with a public service past
Jubilee House was originally built as an ambulance station, serving the local community before becoming offices for Walsall Clinical Commissioning Group. After the commissioning group moved on, the building has remained unoccupied, which the applicant argued left it exposed to potential misuse.
The site is located on Bloxwich Lane, a key road in the Black Country that links Walsall town centre with Bloxwich and beyond. The surrounding area is a mix of residential and commercial properties, and any future proposals will be assessed against planning policies designed to protect neighbourhood character.
No physical changes proposed
A notable aspect of the application was that it involved no changes to the fabric of the building. The applicant intended to provide basic facilities within the existing layout, relying on the current space to accommodate eight separate letting rooms, two kitchens, five toilets and one shower area.
While the HMO would have been used as temporary accommodation, the council’s refusal suggests that the principle of the use change itself is not automatically permissible. A full planning application would allow planners to examine the internal layout, occupancy levels, and the impact on local infrastructure in much greater depth.
What happens next for the depot?
Ad Hoc Property Management Ltd has not yet announced whether it will appeal the decision or submit a new application. Under planning rules, the refusal of a prior approval application does not necessarily block a further attempt, but a full planning application would be required.
Such an application would need to satisfy policies on housing standards, waste and recycling, noise, and safeguarding the amenity of neighbouring residents. It would also likely need to demonstrate that the HMO would not cause an over-concentration of shared accommodation in the immediate area.
Walsall Council’s decision reflects the authority’s view that a change of this nature cannot be slipped through via a fast-track process. If the developer wishes to pursue the scheme, it will need to prepare a much more comprehensive case.
HMO rules in Walsall
HMOs are a common form of housing in Walsall, particularly for single people and those on lower incomes. In many cases, HMOs with five or more occupants are subject to mandatory licensing, regardless of planning permission. However, planning permission is a separate matter from licensing and must be obtained before the use can lawfully begin.
The council has a range of enforcement powers where a property is occupied without the correct permission. In this instance, the prior approval refusal means that any continued proposal to use Jubilee House as an HMO would be in breach of planning control until a full permission is granted.
The decision also highlights the importance of the planning process in shaping housing supply. While the council has a duty to consider housing need, it also has to weigh the impact of individual schemes on local services and neighbours. In this case, the balance fell on requiring a proper application.
