MP voices HMO fears as plans to extend 17th-century Stourbridge hotel sparks 75 objections

Stourbridge MP Cat Eccles, who also serves as a councillor, accused the owner of the town's 17th-century Talbot Hotel of 'underhand tactics' over plans to add 10 new bedrooms to the rear of the building, and warned that it would open the door to it being turned into a house of multiple occupation.

Rosevine Services, which bought the Grade II listed hotel last year, has applied to Dudley Council for permission to build two new extensions at the rear of the 395-year-old building.

The plans have sparked an outcry in the town, with dozens of objections being sent to planners at Dudley Council.

Councillor Eccles said Rosevine had a long history of turning hotels into houses of multiple occupation, and said that was clearly the intent in this case.

She said the Talbot was one of the oldest buildings in Stourbridge, and accused the owner of attempting to bypass its listed status to carve up the hotel ballroom, which it described as a 'conference room' in the planning application.

"The whole building has many interesting and historically valuable features, including the faux Jacobean ceiling in the ballroom and the Mason’s stained glass window, and much more," she said.

"Not only is this an extremely historic and well-loved local building, I am fully aware of the history of the new owners turning hotels into HMOs.

"While this application does not state that explicitly, it is clear from the removal of the kitchen facilities, proposing a laundry and additional bedrooms, that this is their plan. 

"We should not be allowing underhand tactics like this which later result in a retrospective change of use application."

She said the location of the hotel made it totally unsuitable for an HMO.

"There is vast amounts of evidence locally showing that large unmanaged HMOs cause issues within the area," she said.

"I am very concerned at the proposal to divide up the ballroom for further bedrooms which would destroy all the architectural features within it.

"This building should remain as an asset open to our community as it has been for a few hundred years."

A statement issued on behalf of the applicant said the frontage of the building lay in the Stourbridge conservation area. But the rear of the hotel, which had been extended at various times in the past, lay outside the zone, and was simpler in design.

It said the alterations were sympathetic to the fabric of the building.

"Despite the current timber panelling not being original, it is preserved and retained a feature in the proposed bedrooms," said the statement.

"The existing fire surrounds will also remain a feature."

The hotel has had mixed fortunes in recent years. 

It had previously been run by New Horizons Ltd, which used it to provide temporary accommodation for vulnerable people, with their rooms paid for by the benefits system. But it attracted complaints about anti-social behaviour, and in April 2022 it closed suddenly, leaving its residents locked out without warning. 

New Horizons directors Joao Maia E Silva, 46, of Chipping Norton, and Shaun Melson, 57, of Brackley, Northamptonshire, were jailed for eight months each at Wolverhampton Crown Court after admitting they endangered life by not adhering to fire safety requirements.

The building was given a new lease of life later that year when it was taken over by Westbourne Leisure and manager Catherine Growcott, which renovated the building. It was then sold to Birmingham-based Rosevine last year, and Miss Growcott left, saying she did not share the new owner's vision for the future of the hotel. 

Rosevine said the hotel was in a town centre location which had good public transport links within walking distance

"Overall, it is considered that the proposed internal changes and rear extensions would be sympathetic to the character of the existing building and conservation area," the statement added. 

"They are modest in scale and their appearance in keeping with the look and feel of the building and surrounding context. Would not detract from the special qualities of the heritage assets nor adversely impact neighbouring buildings."

The proposals will now go before Dudley Council's planning department.