HMO bid rejected over noise and crime fears

The property, on Birmingham New Road in Wolverhampton, cannot be converted following a council ruling

A detached home cannot be turned into a six-bed House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) after councillors threw out a request over noise, disturbance and crime fears.

The application was lodged with City of Wolverhampton Council by the owner of the property on Birmingham New Road.

He had asked to convert it into six private units of accommodation.

But planning chiefs ruled such a move there could potentially impact nearby residents at different times of the day and night. HMOs are rented out by parties who are not from a single household such as a family.

Prior to the decision, planning officers had explained the proposal would lead to an intensification of usage at the site, confirming occupiers would be unrelated individuals acting as separate households with their own visitors, patterns and times of movement.

“Bedrooms in HMOs tend to be more intensively used than bedrooms in single dwelling houses," officers said.

"This would give rise to potential noise disturbances on upper floors which is not typical of a family dwelling."

Representations from West Midlands Police identified that 46.6% of all total reported crimes in Wolverhampton occurred within close proximity of an HMO, officers added.

Their finding continued: "As no management plan for the property has been provided to prevent crime from occurring in the first place, the proposal is contrary to the promotion of a safe and cohesive environment."

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This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.