Plans to create an 11-bed house of multiple occupation (HMO) in Smethwick High Street have been decisively rejected by Sandwell Council's planning committee, following strong objections from residents and local councillors who warned the area was already struggling with severe vermin problems and fly-tipping.
Existing Problems on Smethwick High Street
Local residents and councillors presented a stark picture of conditions along Smethwick High Street during the planning meeting held on November 26. The area is already suffering from overflowing bins, persistent fly-tipping, rat infestations, and blocked drains, largely attributed to several takeaways operating along the busy route.
Councillor Ragih Muflihi, representing Soho and Victoria ward, highlighted the "massive issues with rodents" caused by littering and inadequate waste management. He noted that Victoria Avenue had been particularly plagued by fly-tipping, describing these ongoing problems as the hardest among his casework and expressing concern that the proposed HMO would undermine recent progress in cleaning up the area.
Councillors Condemn 'Battery Farm' Conditions
The proposed accommodation above Viney's Opticians faced particularly strong criticism from Councillor Bob Piper, who represents the nearby Abbey ward. He expressed being "appalled and shocked" that council planners had initially recommended approving the application.
Councillor Piper compared the living conditions to a "battery farm", noting the absence of common spaces and living rooms, with waste storage space described as little bigger than a cupboard. He warned that the proliferation of HMOs, many approved by government planning inspectors against the council's wishes, was turning the borough's high streets into slums.
The parking provision also came under scrutiny, with only four spaces proposed for up to 22 residents. Councillors Connor Horton and Luke Cotterill both expressed surprise that the highways department hadn't objected given the significant shortfall in parking spaces.
Scaled-Down Plans Still Unacceptable
The rejected application represented a scaled-down version of original proposals for a 20-bed HMO submitted earlier in March. While council planners had recommended approval, citing the removal of a second-floor extension and other design improvements, local opposition remained steadfast.
Residents from Victoria Avenue, the small row of houses behind the proposed development site, had previously warned that the original 20-bed HMO would make existing problems "100 times worse". Despite the reduction in scale, neighbours maintained their objections, citing ongoing issues with parking, vermin, and fly-tipping that they believed would be exacerbated by the high-density accommodation.
The rejection comes as Smethwick prepares to benefit from £20 million in government funding for regeneration over the next decade, with the High Street identified as the biggest priority for improvement. Councillors argued that approving the HMO would contradict these regeneration ambitions and further deteriorate living conditions in the area.
