Walsall Council planners are preparing to make a final decision on a proposal to transform the former Falcon Inn on Gomer Street West, Willenhall, into a 10-bed House of Multiple Occupation (HMO). Planning officers have recommended the application for approval, but the planning committee will hold the final deliberation on Thursday, January 15.
The Falcon Inn ceased trading in April 2022 and has since suffered from flooding, fire damage, and metal thefts. The property was sold at auction earlier this year for £215,000. Currently, the building holds planning permission to be converted into a 12-bedroom HMO, a permit valid until January 2027.
The recent application, submitted by Mr. Satnam Sira, proposes to divide the premises into two separate five-bedroom HMOs—one on the ground floor and one on the first floor. Mr. Sira has indicated that if the updated application is rejected, he will proceed with the conversion under the existing 12-bedroom permission.
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The case has sparked community opposition, with a petition against the proposed development gathering 375 signatures. Councillor Simran Cheema, who initiated the petition, has urged councillors to reconsider the application with greater scrutiny than a recent nearby HMO application on New Road, which was approved in just 16 seconds. Her concerns focus on inadequate parking, over-concentration of HMOs in the area, and negative impacts on local residents’ quality of life.
The planning committee meeting to finalize the decision is scheduled for 5:30 PM on Thursday, January 15, at the Walsall Council House.