Local residents and Councillor Roger Harmer have voiced strong opposition to a planning application seeking to convert a family home into a five-bedroom HMO on Botteville Road, citing rising anti-social behaviour and erosion of the area’s family character.
Residents of Botteville Road in Acocks Green, Birmingham, are rallying against a planning application that proposes to convert a family home into a five-bedroom House in Multiple Occupation (HMO). The proposal has sparked significant local opposition, prompting concerns about the impact on the community’s character and quality of life.
Councillor Roger Harmer, a member of the Liberal Democrats, has been vocal in his criticism of the planned conversion. He noted that a growing number of properties along Botteville Road have already been transformed into HMOs, leading to “issues with anti-social behaviour, parking difficulties and rubbish/fly-tipping”. Councillor Harmer stated that he has received a dozen letters from local residents expressing their strong opposition to the application, fearing that it would further erode the family-oriented nature of the area.
Residents have until May 7 to submit their objections to the council before the application is reviewed. Harmer has pro-actively reached out to locals, highlighting their justified concerns regarding the rising number of multi-occupied properties. He remarked, “Botteville Road is only a short road and I have already had 12 residents get back to me, all objecting strongly to the application.” He emphasised that the Council’s imposed 10% limit on HMO applications has likely already been exceeded in the area.
The application itself comes from an owner who has struggled to sell the property, which has been vacant for some time. A Design and Access Statement submitted with the application outlines that the owner seeks to repurpose the existing six-bedroom layout into five en-suite bedsits. The proposed design includes an open-plan lounge, dining room, and kitchen, which the owner believes is “more than adequate for shared amenity services”. Furthermore, the property has parking capacity for approximately six cars.
Community sentiment against the application has also been voiced on social media. Local resident Ali Rauf expressed frustration, stating, “Well please reject it, we don’t need HMO in the area, it’s only killing the area off.” Another resident, Kelly Evans, added, “That road is quite unpleasant these days as it is. Please no more HMOs.”
As local authorities prepare to review the planning application, the future of Botteville Road remains uncertain, with residents advocating for the preservation of its family-centric character against the backdrop of increasing demands for HMOs in the area.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/planningcomments – This page provides information on how residents can submit comments or objections to planning applications in Birmingham, including the process and criteria for valid objections.
- https://acocks-green-neighbourhood-forum.org/2022/05/12/planning-applications-keep-informed-and-be-heard/ – This article discusses community concerns in Acocks Green about the proliferation of HMOs and emphasizes the importance of residents submitting their views to the council to influence planning decisions.
- https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/planningregister – This resource allows residents to view planning applications and documents, check the progress of current applications, and comment on applications awaiting decision.
- https://www.expressandstar.com/news/local-hubs/dudley/stourbridge/2023/12/13/controversial-plan-for-hmo-in-stourbridge-thrown-out-by-council-planners/ – This article reports on a controversial HMO plan in Stourbridge that was rejected by council planners after hundreds of objections, highlighting the impact of community opposition on planning decisions.
- https://paulettehamilton.org/2023/07/paulette-puts-an-objection-to-oppose-another-hmo-in-erdington/ – This post details MP Paulette Hamilton’s objection to a planning application for an HMO in Erdington, reflecting concerns about the impact of HMOs on local communities.
- https://docslib.org/doc/7074942/hmos-in-selly-oak-harborne-and-edgbaston-through-the-use-of-an-article-4-direction – This document discusses the use of Article 4 Directions in Birmingham to control the proliferation of HMOs, aiming to maintain balanced communities and prevent over-concentration of HMOs.
- https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilwFBVV95cUxOd1RhOTd3RldxR2hTSEpwRGluZk5vMDRiajJDQjZNTDRkYkZhc0RnYXBvM01qNTE1SDROV1puMGx1M2wwRVBCcmhlN29ObEZsbVBjM3RaNTdLa0Z3QnpiZXhKOEg5cjV6ejVYZlR1VGdoa2FfMkkzZWpOcWhNSmwyUlVoZFZQVEhpRjI4V0hielRLenZxSW1z0gGcAUFVX3lxTE5oYVp4cF9UZDR4TXBZU0p3anNBSTFTV0hxemU3MWtpLUxWanhCZkVOSzFoZXpUOEw4Y2N4ck9aZVpzYzUzZllEWGNHYTQ2R1p3QTFFY084TDRtcG5aYXRaeVFyaV92Um1DYmN1X1NLaDBKSWFBVXZxS2pQUEtNY2JHelRZSVY1U2RPaEN3OWk2REVXYV9DQ292RkkzVA?oc=5&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en – Please view link – unable to able to access data
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative contains time-sensitive information about a current planning application and a deadline for objections (until May 7), suggesting its content is recent.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative includes direct quotes from Councillor Roger Harmer and local residents Ali Rauf and Kelly Evans, but their earliest use cannot be verified online. The quotes appear original to the context provided.
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The narrative originates from a news aggregator and lacks specific attribution to a well-known, reputable news outlet. However, the information aligns with typical local news reporting.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims about a planning application and community opposition are plausible and consistent with common themes in local news regarding HMO conversions.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative appears fresh and plausible, with original quotes that cannot be verified online. However, its source reliability is uncertain due to lack of attribution to a known outlet.
