A Conservative councillor for Brierley Hill is spearheading a renewed campaign to prevent derelict Victorian buildings from being converted into a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO). Dudley Council has received an application for an 18-bedroom HMO at a site behind Albion Church, located to the rear of a premises on High Street.
The proposal involves converting and extending vacant office buildings that date back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The site comprises three Victorian-era structures plus a building from the 1960s. The applicant states that the site will be transformed into an HMO, along with offices, a games room, and an extensive outdoor area.
Local Leaders Rally Opposition
Cllr Adam Davies, along with fellow councillor Wayne Little and community campaigner Shane Birch-Bastock, is calling on residents to sign a petition opposing the plan. Cllr Davies emphasized the need for appropriate housing: "Brierley Hill needs homes for local people, not overcrowded blocks for people from outside the area to be placed or keep coming and going in poor quality accommodation. Our area mustn't become a dumping ground for substandard housing."
The application, registered by the council on April 17, has already attracted objections. Glen Alebon raised concerns: "An HMO would introduce a higher intensity of use, with increased comings and goings compared to a single dwelling. In this location, this raises concerns about safety, reduced natural surveillance, and the suitability of a high-occupancy property in close proximity to children and vulnerable individuals. There are also concerns regarding parking and highway safety."
Heritage Concerns and Previous Rejection
The buildings have been empty for approximately 20 years and are in a shabby state. A heritage statement submitted with the application, authored by Richard Garside, suggests their future is uncertain: "Without physical intervention and urgent repair, their retention as testament to the heritage significance of the Brierley Hill High Street Conservation Area is potentially in serious doubt."
This is not the first attempt to develop the site. A previous plan for an 18-bedroom HMO on the same location was rejected by the council in August 2025. The current application proposes a scheme that the applicant claims is "well considered and designed to the location vernacular and pays homage to its historical context, whilst keeping any enlargements to a minimum."
Campaigners remain determined to fight the proposal, urging the community to support their petition to protect the character of the area and ensure housing meets local needs.
