Fresh attempt to open new tuition centre in Smethwick after first was rejected

BMH Tutors has made a new move to open a private tutors in Waterloo Road opposite Shireland Collegiate Academy in Smethwick.

The plan to open the tuition centre for up to 20 students aged between five and 18 years old in the former shop on the border of Bearwood and Cape Hill comes after a previous move to open in St Mary’s Road in Bearwood was rejected by Sandwell Council only last month.

The council turned down a planning application by BMH Tutors to convert the Victorian home into a ‘private tuition academy’ for children studying for their GCSEs and A-Levels saying it would “significantly increase” the number of cars using the road and would not be providing enough parking spaces.

A statement included with the application said the proposed conversion would not be “noise-generating” and would be comparable to a “small school library” but the council’s planners still went on to reject the application.

The home, opposite St Mary’s Church just off the busy Bearwood High Street, would have sat next to Bearwood Dental Care and the Play House Day Nursery.

The proposed opening hours are 11am to 8pm on weekdays and 10am to 6pm on weekends and public holidays including half-term breaks and school holidays.

The new planning application said Waterloo Road was an “ideal location” that was “not going to cause any problems to anyone.” The tuition centre would be targeting children within a one-mile radius who would walk to cut down on car use, the application said.

The private tutors said surrounding streets including Catethorn Road, Pearman Road, Edgbaston Road, Grange Road, and the rest of Waterloo Road would have spaces for pick-ups and drop-offs.

BMH Tutors already runs an academy in upmarket Handsworth Wood.

“We tutor children from the ages of five to 18 and provide individualised tuition to small groups of students,” a statement included with the application said. “Students will simply sit and individually do their work and seek assistance from one of our tutors. Children will be of mixed age groups and will work independently.

“During opening hours, children will have a scheduled fixed time slot when they are on the premises. They will sit at a table and quietly do their work and be assisted by one of our staff members. We have two to three staff members at present.”