Dudley office block could house 34-bedroom HMO under plans recommended for approval
Dudley planners are set to consider two applications for houses in multiple occupancy (HMOs) including conversion of an office building.
At its meeting on Wednesday (February 18) the borough council’s planning committee will give its verdict on proposals for a change of use for Regent House in King Street, Dudley.
Council officers are recommending approval for a conversion of the former office building to a 34-bedroom HMO.
In a report for the committee, planning officers said: “The existing commercial building is vacant and its reuse for residential purposes would contribute to a mix of dwelling types, sizes and tenures within the local area contributing to the delivery of housing within the borough.
“The site occupies a highly sustainable location, and the proposed development does not, therefore, raise unacceptable highway safety concerns.
“Concerns raised by West Midlands Police have also been appropriately addressed.”
West MIdlands Police is worried the building failed to provide adequate parking spaces and vehicles parked away from the site may lead to a rise in vehicle crime.
Officers also said the proposal is in a high-crime area, saying that over the last 12 months in the ward area of the planned HMO there had been 344 reports of anti-social behaviour, 385 vehicle crime reports, 185 burglaries and 1,976 violent offences reported.
Another HMO application before the committee will be for a property at 7 Market Street, Stourbridge.
The application is for the upper floors of the building, for alterations from office or storage space to a four-bedroom HMO plus the addition of a new front door to the shop front on the ground floor providing access for residents on the upper floors.
In a report for councillors on the committee council officers recommend the plan is approved.
The report said: “The proposal would provide an appropriate standard of accommodation for future occupiers and would not result in undue harm to neighbouring amenity, highway safety or the vitality and viability of the town centre.”
