Acocks Green Residents Called to Unite Against New HMO Proposal

Residents in Acocks Green are being urged to unite in opposition to a new planning application seeking to convert a family house into a five-bedroom House in Multiple Occupation (HMO).

The application concerns a three-storey property on Alexander Road, which could be repurposed to accommodate multiple occupants. Local Liberal Democrat representatives have expressed strong reservations about the proposal, highlighting concerns over increased traffic and parking difficulties on an already congested street.

Speaking via social media, the group stated: “We will be opposing this application, on the basis that the area already has more than enough HMOs and suffers from a significant shortage of family homes. The introduction of a five-bed HMO here is likely to exacerbate parking problems by adding several additional vehicles to the road.”

They encouraged local residents to submit formal objections before the application deadline at the end of the month, emphasising that collective action has previously helped to successfully resist similar developments in Acocks Green ward.

Just a few months ago, city planners rejected another plan on Alexander Road proposing the conversion of a family home into a seven-bedroom HMO. This earlier proposal was considered “over intensive,” with neighbours raising concerns about parking, traffic congestion, crime and waste management, as well as the high concentration of HMOs in the area.

Birmingham City Council leader Coun Roger Harmer also opposed the prior application, citing the issues of overconcentration of HMOs, loss of family housing stock, parking challenges and the scale of the property as key factors.

With the community once again facing a similar proposal, local leaders and residents alike are being called upon to participate proactively in the planning process to safeguard the character and needs of their neighbourhood.