Oldbury house to become HMO after plans for children's home thrown out

Sandwell Council refused a plan by Madiha Ali from Surrey-based Abbey Residential Care to convert the foster home in Pool Lane in Oldbury, which had been in use since the mid-90s, into a residential home for four children and young people with emotional and behavioural issues last year.

Ms Ali then returned with a new planning application looking to convert the home into a six-bed HMO which has now been backed by the council’s planners.

The children’s home plan was rejected for having insufficient parking – with the council questioning whether three cars would fit on the drive of the Pool Lane home and ignored two proposed spaces on the opposite of the road because their ‘future use could not be guaranteed.’

The recently approved HMO plan includes two parking spaces to the front – and the previously included spaces on the opposite side of the road – which has now been accepted by the council.

A petition with more than 130 signatures was made against the children’s home plan – alongside 13 formal objections from neighbours – when it was put forward at the start of last year.

While not a factor when making planning decisions, the council’s planners highlighted what they saw as the potential for crime and anti-social behaviour in the quiet cul-de-sac if the children’s home opened.

A statement by Sandwell Council read: "It would be reasonable to assume that the emotional and behavioural difficulties of the young people may well cause issues relating to anti-social behaviour and crime.

"This may be worsened by the lack of a family environment in the home. The small, quiet character of the cul-de-sac would then be significantly impacted."

The local authority also questioned the claim by Abbey Residential Care that more trips would made by car at the current house than if it was converted into a children’s home.

A statement by the highways department said: "If children at the home are enrolled into different schools and they all start at roughly the same time, how can one carer and vehicle be in four places at once."

The council’s planners also said the proposed parking spaces were too small and would accommodate two cars "at best" – and not the three included in designs.

“The narrowness of the highway here is such that two cars cannot pass,” planners said. “Any waiting vehicles therefore block access further up the cul-de-sac. The proposed change of use would have up to four staff members on site at any one time which would create an increased parking demand.

“There is no on-street parking available on the cul-de-sac. Therefore, any additional parking would be displaced to the main part of Pool Lane.”