Six-bedroom HMO refused in Pensnett - here's why
A retrospective planning application for a six-bedroom house in multiple occupation (HMO) in Pensnett has been refused by Dudley planners.
The proposal, for a property on Birds Meadow, was dismissed for failing to provide adequate living conditions for occupiers.
The application was also thrown out because it did not provide sufficient off-road parking and affected the safety of road users.
In his determination on the application, Carl Mellor, Dudley head of planning, said: “The application has failed to demonstrate that sufficient parking would be provided to serve the needs of the proposed six-bedroom HMO.
“As such, the proposal has the potential to result in the displacement of vehicles onto the highway that would result in a detrimentally negative impact to highway safety for both vehicles and pedestrian users.”
The building has a long history of planning applications, in 2022 the council refused permission for a change of use to the first floor and part of the ground floor, and two storey rear extension to create five one-bedroom apartments.
A subsequent resubmission of the application with one less apartment was also refused.
In 2024 the authority refused to grant a lawful development certificate for the house to be used as an HMO.
Council officers reported plans submitted with the application failed to give a true representation of the development however there was enough information to make a detailed assessment.
The application was for six bedrooms, each with an en-suite bathroom, ranging in size from 7.2sqm to 15.6sqm on the ground and first floors.
There was a shared kitchen but no shared living room or dining room.
In their report, council officers concluded: “It is evident that insufficient information has been provided to demonstrate that the proposal would provide a good standard of residential accommodation to serve the occupiers of the HMO, and failing to provide a good standard of residential amenity for the future occupiers in terms of layout and adequate living standards.”
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