36 Holyhead Road — Eight HMO Bedrooms, 500+ Signatures and the Planning Fog Machine

Sandwell Insight: 36 Holyhead Road — Eight HMO Bedrooms, 500+ Signatures and the Planning Fog Machine

20 October 2026 | Application DC/26/71822

Well, here we go again!

Another Sandwell HMO application, another community raising the alarm, and another proposal apparently heading towards a delegated decision.

This time it's 36 Holyhead Road, Wednesbury, where the applicant wants to convert first- and second-floor offices into an eight-bedroom, eight-person House in Multiple Occupation.

We flagged this application back in September. Since then, I've examined all 13 planning documents, and what I've found raises some serious questions.

Even Sandwell Council's own officers want answers!

EIGHT BEDROOMS — BUT DO THEY MEET THE STANDARDS?

The applicant's paperwork describes the proposal as Class C4 HMO/Supported Accommodation.

There's a problem already. An eight-person HMO would ordinarily be classed as Sui Generis, not C4.

So what exactly is being proposed? An ordinary HMO or supported accommodation?

Then there are the rooms themselves.

My examination of the drawings raises concerns about the usable size of Bedroom 8, which includes a kitchenette and en-suite, and the adequacy of the communal living space.

Sandwell Housing has produced five pages of accommodation standards, but the documents I've examined do not conclusively demonstrate compliance.

Surely checking whether bedrooms meet the council's own standards should happen BEFORE permission is granted?

SANDWELL'S OWN OFFICERS HAVE QUESTIONS

Highways has queried the parking arrangements, with the applicant identifying seven spaces while mapping appears to show approximately 17 across the site.

Who uses them? How many are actually available? What happens when eight residents move in?

Transportation Planning has also requested clarification about cycle storage.

Meanwhile, Pollution Control has warned that prospective residents may experience undue noise and recommended a professional acoustic assessment.

And don't forget, the original application recorded no arrangements for waste or recycling storage.

Parking. Noise. Room sizes. Bins. Planning classification.

Quite a collection of loose ends for something apparently regarded as a routine delegated decision!

THE OLD POST OFFICE — A COMMUNITY WORTH PROTECTING

Next door is the Old Post Office, operated by registered charity Wednesbury 2000.

This isn't some empty building waiting for redevelopment.

It provides dance, music, fitness, martial arts, youth clubs, community events and charitable activities.

The charity reports more than 600 attendances each week involving children and vulnerable adults.

The Old Post Office is also on Sandwell Council's Local List of historic buildings.

Wednesbury 2000 has now launched a petition opposing the HMO proposal, reporting more than 500 signatures and aiming for 1,000.

It also reports repeated attempts to contact the planning case officer without receiving a response.

After years of volunteers working to bring a historic building back into community use, surely they deserve meaningful engagement?

THERE'S ALSO A NATIONAL PLANNING POLICY SANDWELL MUST CONSIDER

The revised National Planning Policy Framework includes Policy P4, reflecting the 'agent of change' principle.

In simple terms, new development should not place unreasonable restrictions on established businesses and community facilities.

What happens if future HMO occupants complain about noise from existing music, dance or other activities?

Could the Old Post Office subsequently face pressure to restrict those activities?

Has Sandwell properly assessed that risk?

The charity also reports existing parking congestion and sewage flooding. Those claims need investigating, not simply accepting or dismissing.

The council must establish whether the two uses can operate successfully alongside one another.

DELEGATED DECISION? REALLY?

According to Sandwell's planning portal, the application is currently earmarked for a delegated decision.

Let's recap.

Housing standards need checking.

Highways wants clarification.

Transportation Planning wants answers.

Pollution Control has identified potential noise problems.

The neighbouring charity has raised substantial concerns.

And hundreds of residents have reportedly signed a petition.

Yet the expected decision route remains delegated.

Delegated decisions are perfectly lawful, but delegated authority must not become delegated avoidance of scrutiny.

I believe this application deserves consideration for referral to Planning Committee.

MY FINAL WORD

Sandwell Council should not approve this application until the outstanding technical questions have been satisfactorily addressed, including the effect on the Old Post Office.

With Reform now running Sandwell, here's another opportunity to demonstrate that promises of transparency and accountability mean something.

Residents do not live in planning categories. They live in streets.

And those streets deserve better than another journey through Sandwell's award-winning planning fog machine.

HAVE YOUR SAY

Planning Application: DC/26/71822

36 Holyhead Road, Wednesbury, WS10 7DF

SANDWELL PLANNING PORTAL:

https://webcaps.sandwell.gov.uk/publicaccess/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=TGB9JUNR09500

WEDNESBURY 2000 PETITION:

https://www.change.org/p/prevent-conversion-of-local-building-into-an-hmo

The advertised consultation period has ended, but if the application remains undecided, residents can still seek to submit representations and request acknowledgement.

PLANNING CONTACT:

Case Officer: Mr Anjan Dey

Telephone: 07765 220172

Applicant: Mr Ebrahim Fiaz

Agent: Mr Tayyiab Tasleem

WEDNESBURY WARD COUNCILLORS:

Councillor Jeremy Handley jeremy_handley@sandwell.gov.uk

Councillor Owen Nelson owen_nelson@sandwell.gov.uk

Councillor Paul Snape paul_snape@sandwell.gov.uk

Ask your councillors to examine the outstanding concerns and seek appropriate Planning Committee scrutiny.

Planning should protect communities and provide decent homes. It should never be a paperwork exercise that leaves both exposed.

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