Massive Public Backlash Against New HMO Proposal
More than 800 local residents have put their names to a petition fiercely opposing plans to transform a historic former hardware store in Willenhall into a 13-bedroom House of Multiple Occupation (HMO). The controversial application, submitted to Walsall Council in September, targets the landmark building at 116-118 Lower Lichfield Street, which was the home of Roy Birch’s DIY and Hardware shop for over five decades.
A Beloved Local Business Lost
The cherished hardware store, a fixture in the town for more than 50 years, finally closed its doors in 2023 when its owner, Roy Birch, retired in his early nineties. The property was subsequently put on the market last year with an asking price in the region of £300,000. Its proposed conversion into a large HMO has now become a flashpoint for community discontent.
‘Area is Saturated,’ Says Local Councillor
The petition was launched by Willenhall South ward councillor, Simran Cheema, who voiced the ‘growing frustration’ among residents regarding the sheer volume of HMO applications in the area. Over the past year, plans have been advanced to convert several other local buildings, including the former Fosters Fitness Centre on Wood Street, Chamberlains on Upper Lichfield Street, and the former Falcon Inn pub on Gomer Street West.
Councillor Cheema stated emphatically, “The area is already saturated with HMOs and this proposal will only add to the problems of overcrowding, parking issues and anti-social behaviour. I urge Walsall Council planners to do the right thing and turn this application down.”
Her concerns are amplified by recent council decisions, such as the approval for an eight-bedroom HMO on New Road, a decision reportedly made by the planning committee in just 16 seconds.
Council’s Stance and Next Steps
When approached for comment, a spokesperson for Walsall Council confirmed the application is still under assessment and that no decision has been made. They stated, “All comments received on the application will be taken into account in the assessment of material considerations in line with national and local planning policy.”
The community now waits to see if their collective voice, demonstrated by the hundreds of signatures, will be enough to sway the council's final verdict on the future of this prominent local building.
