Anti-social behaviour fears over new Walsall HMO plan
Plans to turn an old Walsall care home into a house to support asylum seekers and homeless people have sparked objections from neighbours.
Walsall Council’s planning committee will meet on February 4 to discuss the plan by developer Dr Rahul Sahay to convert the old Redhouse Nursing Home in Redhouse Street into a house of multiple occupancy (HMO).
It is intended to house vulnerable people in the proposed development but this has led to some neighbours to say they are concerned their security will be at risk and anti-social behaviour will rise.
If approved, the development will see 35 rooms created with facilities such as toilets, shower rooms, kitchen and communal areas.
Up to four members of staff will work at the HMO during the day with a further two on duty during the nights.
In the application, Mr Sahay said the development would provide much-needed accommodation for those in need and a strict management plan had been devised to ensure there was no disturbance to neighbours.
But planning officers received six letters of objection to the scheme during the consultation period.
A report to committee members said their grounds for objecting included concerns about the “type of people and their lifestyle” who would use the development, a risk of anti-social behaviour and concerns about the impact on security, safety and mental health on residents.
Another objection said the proposal was inappropriate for the area while other concerns included increased noise, a loss of privacy and inadequate parking on the street.
But officers said these issues would be addressed by the management plan while, following discussions with the applicant, the police had no objections.
In the management plan, Dr Sahay said: “We understand and appreciate that large houses of multiple occupancy, asylum seekers and homeless people instinctively bring negative connotations to mind.
“People stereotype them with drugs, crime, and anti-social behaviour.
“There are numerous HMOs in the borough and very few suffer from anti-social behaviour problems. Those which do suffer from anti-social behaviour are often due to poor management.
“Therefore, our site will take steps and put measures in place to ensure the safety and security of the residents on-site as well as the neighbours."
Among the measures proposed are a 10pm curfew, CCTV both inside and outside the building, close working with police, council and healthcare officers, 24-hour on-site staff and coded entry and exit doors.
Planning officers concluded the development will not have any significant impact on the area and are recommending permission is granted subject to conditions.
