A plan to convert a former barbershop left empty for more than a decade is one of a number of HMO plans submitted to the council.

The first plan would see the empty dilapidated former barbershop in Birmingham Road, Oldbury, which has stood empty since 2012, converted into an eight-bed house of multiple occupation.

The plans by Qasid Khan currently show space for three spaces but Sandwell Council’s highways department is already saying that four spaces would be required to meet standards.

Thorne Architects, the agent for Mr Khan, said that bigger HMOs in the area had fewer spaces than was being pushed for by the council – but highway officers were sticking by their concerns.

Another planning application has been submitted to Sandwell Council which would see a two-storey extension built to an existing three-bed home in Oak Road, West Bromwich, with the building then also converted into an eight-bed HMO. A statement included with the application to Sandwell Council said:

“Whilst the current property of 1930s character has generous size proportion to the main areas of accommodation it is proposed that a two-storey side extension be added to provide an additional four bedrooms across the two floors, each with their own en-suite facilities comprising of a shower, toilet and washbasin. 

“Externally little change is proposed except for the two-storey side extension which is to replace the previous garage conversion to a studio room with an adjacent wet room. With the front ground floor reception room forming a third bedroom at this level the remainder of the ground floor has been arranged to provide a shared communal open-plan kitchen and dining area for use by all occupants of the property. 

“At the first floor within the existing house footprint, the present three bedrooms are to be retained and remodelled to allow for the additional en-suites.

“The present staircase is also to be retained with access to the additional two bedrooms within the extension provided off of the half-landing turn.”