Residents of a peaceful Solihull cul-de-sac are mounting a campaign to block plans to convert a three-bedroom semi-detached house into a six-bedroom House in Multiple Occupation (HMO).
Brean Avenue, home to many elderly residents and young families, is described by locals as a close-knit community with limited parking, a single turning circle, and a character defined by its bungalows. Campaigners say the proposed conversion threatens to overwhelm the area’s infrastructure and damage its quiet character.
The online petition, which has already gained 750 signatures, warns that the HMO could bring increased noise, heavier traffic, and safety concerns for children and elderly residents.
“Brean Avenue was not designed to sustain a high turnover of residents or the extra traffic that a six-bedroom HMO would bring,” said one resident in the petition statement.
“This change could endanger families, devalue properties, and disrupt the tranquillity that makes this street a sanctuary for its inhabitants.”
The property in question is directly attached to another home where a family with two small children live, prompting particular concern over potential disruption. Residents also warn that approving the plan could set a precedent for similar developments in other quiet neighbourhoods.
Campaigners are urging local authorities to refuse permission for the conversion and are calling on fellow residents across Solihull to show their support.
The petition can be viewed and signed here: Stop Brean Avenue Property Change to 6-Bedroom HMO.