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Controversial plans to convert a Solihull family home into a four-bedroom HMO are to go before planners next week. Nearly 30 neighbours have objected to the plans but despite this Solihull Council planning officers are recommending it is given approval when it goes before the planning committee next week.
The property in Streetsbrook Road is currently a two-storey semi-detached residential property but applicant Gurdev Sondh is applying to change the property into a house of multiple occupation and convert the garage into a commercial office. The application says: “The commercial uses will be restricted to the ground floor and the residential accommodation will not be linked to the businesses at the front.
“The commercial unit will have a total floor space of 13.5 square metres. The change in the use of the property will involve some changes to the internal rooms.
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“Four dedicated parking spaces will be provided at the front of the property. The hours of use for the offices will be from 9am to 6pm Mondays to Fridays; 10am to 4pm Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays.”
As the Local Democracy Reporting Service previously reported the applicant, in the planning submission submitted in August, pointed out permission has been granted for similar HMOs in the wider area including Stratford Road and Wellsford Avenue. The home sits next to a run of shops which includes Spire Convenience Store and Post Office.
In a consultation 27 objections were made by residents. The objections included:
- Inappropriate to convert a family dwelling
- Difficult and insufficient parking
- Noise
- Anti Social behaviour
- Loss of a family home
- Concerns property values will drop
But in their report to the committee Solihull Council officers write: “The proposed car parking provision for the office/commercial use and HMO is considered adequate and there are no highway objections to the proposals. With regards to neighbour concerns regarding the number of occupants and noise and disturbance, and the potential for criminal activity, no objection has been received from the councils’ public protection officers on this matter.
“The proposal will not be harmful to the character of the area, highway safety or the free flow of traffic, or residential amenity. The planning balance is firmly in favour for this proposal.”
The application will go before Solihull Council’s planning committee’s meeting being held at the Civic Suite on Wednesday, November 6. The meeting, which is open to the public, starts at 4.30pm.
