HMO at former Smethwick Police HQ is refused again
Plans to convert a 1970s emergency services training block into 69 studio flats have been thrown out by Sandwell Council, who say the development would create a “poor-quality living environment” for residents.
Birmingham-based Meizon put forward plans for Windmill House in August, after a previous proposal to convert the building into a 76-bedroom HMO was also thrown out.
In a statement submitted with the latest scheme, the developer said it had “completely revised” its proposals for the five-storey building on Windmill Lane in Smethwick, after the local authority cited inadequate parking and insufficient amenity space among its concerns for the earlier application.
Meizon described its latest submission as a carefully considered scheme which responded directly to Sandwell Council’s previous decision and subsequent officer feedback.
“The development will deliver a high-quality living environment, significantly improve the appearance of Windmill House, provide accommodation targeted towards key workers and make a positive contribution to the continued regeneration of this part of Smethwick,” they said.
The proposals also included a renewed facade to the modernist-style office block, with informal planting intended to improve the look of the car parking area to the front of the building.
But its plans have again been turned down, despite overhauled proposals including a reduction in the number of studios and an increase in on-site parking from 23 to 25 spaces.
A report by Sandwell’s planning officers said that while parking arrangements for the scheme represented a “substantial improvement” on the previous proposals, it still held concerns over amenity provision, accessibility, privacy and residential living conditions.
The council also noted improvements in residential amenities including the addition of a basement gymnasium, and a communal terrace on the first floor, but officers also noted that the proposal provided only around 2,500 sq ft of external amenity space against the council’s expectation of around 8,200 sq ft.
A total of 823 individual objections were received to the proposals, as well as a paper petition carrying 447 signatures and an online petition carrying 768 signatures.
“The application seeks to overcome the reasons for refusal associated with [ the previous application ] and has achieved notable improvements in relation to parking provision, communal facilities, refuse storage and site operation,” said the report.
“Notwithstanding these amendments, the proposal continues to result in unacceptable living conditions for future occupiers due to poor outlook and enclosure and would continue to cause unacceptable overlooking and loss of privacy to neighbouring residential occupiers.”
A decision to refuse the scheme was issued on 9 October.
Plans and documents relating to the proposals can be found on Sandwell Council’s planning portal, using reference: DC/26/71997
