Planning permission has been granted to convert the former Falcon Inn pub on Gomer Street West, Willenhall, into a 10-bedroom House of Multiple Occupation (HMO). The decision was finalized at the planning committee meeting on Thursday, January 15.
The Falcon Inn closed its doors to the public in April 2022 and has since suffered from flooding, fire damage, and metal theft. The property was sold at auction in 2024 for £215,000.
Applicant Satnam Sira submitted the application proposing the conversion into two separate five-bedroom HMOs, one on the ground floor and one on the first floor. This plan comes after previous approval was granted for a 12-bedroom HMO on the same site.
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Locally, there has been opposition to the development. Councillor Simran Cheema, representing Willenhall South ward, launched a petition signed by 375 residents expressing concerns. She highlighted that the WV13 postcode area already hosts 12 licensed HMOs and cautioned against approving more, fearing it could overwhelm the community.
Despite these objections, the planning committee concluded that a 10-bedroom HMO would be a better outcome for residents compared to a 12-bedroom option. Deputy leader Councillor Mark Statham acknowledged the dilemma faced by the committee, stating that refusing the 10-bedroom proposal could lead to the larger 12-bedroom HMO being developed instead.
Because the new approval does not nullify the previous one, the applicant retains the option to proceed with either the 10-bedroom or 12-bedroom conversion plans.