An application to turn a Smethwick home into a house of multiple occupation (HMO) that was rejected twice in two years has been submitted for a third time. The proposal for the property in Cheshire Road initially sought to create an eight-bed HMO but was refused by Sandwell Council in March 2025 and again in January 2026 due to parking and noise concerns.
Revised Plans Reduce Room Count
The new application reduces the number of bedrooms from eight to seven, in an attempt to address previous objections. However, neighbours remain opposed, arguing the changes are minimal and do not resolve the core issues. The building was registered as a five-bed HMO in December 2025 and can be converted to six beds without planning permission.
Council planners had previously criticised the internal layout as “poor,” noting it would create an “unacceptable living environment.” A basement living room reliant solely on artificial lighting was highlighted as a particular concern.
Neighbour Objections and Petitions
The original application sparked petitions with nearly 100 signatures opposing the development. The latest submission has drawn fresh objections, with one resident stating: “I can find nothing different in this application… All the reasons for the previous refusal remain exactly the same.” Another objector highlighted parking issues on Cheshire Road, which consists of terraced housing with no off-street parking, leading to congestion and pavement blocking that affects parents with buggies, wheelchair users, and visually impaired people.
Council Concerns Over Living Conditions
The council’s rejection report noted that the previous eight-bed plan included a single shared kitchen without seating or a fridge. Most bedrooms measured between six and nine square metres, providing space for a bed and wardrobe but little else. Applicant Karanjeet Singh of Nidh Properties proposed using the basement as a shared facility, but planners ruled this would not provide a suitable living environment. The council also warned that the HMO would increase noise and disturbance for neighbours.
