The government inspector disagreed with City of Wolverhampton Council and West Midlands Police over its crime and parking objections
14:53, 16 Apr 2026Updated 14:53, 16 Apr 2026
A move to build two HMOs in a crime-hit street will be allowed to go ahead despite being rejected by a council.
City of Wolverhampton Council rejected plans to demolish a number of warehouses in Fawdry Street, Wolverhampton, to make way for two four-bed houses of multiple occupation (HMO).
The council claimed the HMO tenants would result in ‘more comings and goings’ and create noise and nuisance for existing residents in Fawdry Street as well as add to the street’s extensive parking problems.
However, the decision was appealed to a government inspector who has overruled the council and approved the move.
The planning inspector disagreed with City of Wolverhampton Council and West Midlands Police saying the activity at the proposed HMOs would be no different from two fully-occupied family homes.
He added that crime and anti-social behaviour figures had been provided by West Midlands Police but without evidence they were attributed to occupants of HMOs and the council had claimed the new HMO would lead to “reckless and overcrowded” parking but had also not provided proof.
“HMOs are typically occupied by unrelated individuals, often with differing working patterns and social activities, which can contrast with the more co-ordinated activities of family households,” the inspector said in a report outlining the approval.
“That said, even allowing for the different occupancy characteristics, based on the evidence provided, I find that the level of activity associated with eight occupants across the two proposed HMOs would not be materially greater than that which could reasonably arise from two single family dwellings.
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“With respect to car parking, the council contends that, without any off-street parking, the proposal would increase competition for public parking spaces for existing occupiers, undermining the harmony and enjoyment of the neighbourhood.
“However, the council has not substantiated its case regarding parking stress.
“Moreover, in respect of this main issue, the council’s concerns regarding the lack of off-street parking provision are not supported by the planning policies that have been provided.”
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While the city’s planners supported demolishing the warehouses and redeveloping the site last year, they were not in favour of the HMO plans.
“Due to the short-term tenancy of HMOs, their occupants tend to be more transient in nature, with fewer connections to or respect for the local area,” the council’s planners said in their rejection.
“This can result in tensions with the local more permanent domestic populations, undermining community stability and cohesion.”
The plans were scaled down after earlier discussions had proposed a 12-bed HMO.
In the report outlining the rejection, the council said 50 per cent of all reported crime across Wolverhampton had taken place within 400 metres of an HMO.
“Whether or not such crimes are carried out by occupants of an HMO, there remains a correlation between HMOs and crime,” the council continued.
“Further data from West Midlands Police indicates that crime is already an issue within the local area.
“Without an appropriate management plan supporting the application, there would be no mechanisms in place to prevent or manage instances of anti-social behaviour or criminality.
“The intensification of not one but two HMOs next to each other further compounds this issue.”
The council also highlighted parking problems in Fawdry Street with residents already competing with patrons at the nearby Stile Inn pub, worshippers at two mosques at either end of Fawdry Street, and Wolves fans heading to Molineux for spaces.
“Whilst it’s likely that some of these residents wouldn’t own cars, there would still be an additional level of competition for the limited off-street parking spaces,” the council added.
“Such competition can create disputes and conflict between neighbours, undermining the harmony and enjoyment of a neighbourhood.”