Walsall Council has refused an application to transform the former ambulance depot at Jubilee House, Bloxwich Lane, into a House of Multiple Occupation (HMO).
The proposal, submitted last month by Ad Hoc Property Management Ltd, sought permission to convert the vacant building into an eight-bedroom HMO. The company described the plan as a temporary measure intended to improve security and prevent antisocial behaviour around the currently unused property.
The suggested conversion would not have involved any structural alterations to the building. Plans included eight individual accommodation units, two kitchens, five toilets, and one shower area within the existing layout.
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Ad Hoc Property Management stated: “The use of an HMO is for security purposes, to maintain the fabric of the building, to prevent antisocial behaviour in the local community, all whilst providing affordable temporary accommodation.”
Historically, the building functioned as an ambulance station before later serving as offices for the Walsall Clinical Commissioning Group.
The submitted application was a prior approval request solely for a change of use. However, Walsall Council determined that this proposal requires a full planning application and subsequently refused the current plans.