A proposal to turn a family home into a HMO and a studio flat has been blocked by Solihull planners.

Applicant Mr Rai lodged a change of use application for the existing house in Hemlingford Road, Kingshurst, with Solihull Metrolpolitan Borough Council (SMBC) in March.

It was proposed the property become a five bedroom house in multiple occupancy (HMO), with an additional studio flat for another resident to live at the property.

The floor plans included in the application proposed a HMO bedroom on the ground floor, with two HMO bedrooms on the first floor and two on the second floor.

All the HMO rooms had their own en-suite and the HMO's kitchen would be on the ground floor, the plans showed.

Meanwhile an attached studio flat covered the ground floor and first floor, included its own kitchen, living room and en-suite for the resident living there.

Under current rules landlords can convert a family home into a HMO for up to six people without needing planning permission.

But on July 20, SMBC's head of planning, design and engagement service Mark Andrews issued a decision to refuse planning permission, due to an issue with the studio flat.

The officer wrote: "The reason for the council's decision is the as built internal ground and first floor areas of the studio flat would, according to the measured plan, be approximately only 26.5 square metres.

"On this basis it would have inadequate and substandard habitable internal floor areas well below the minimum square metre area standard laid out by central government – which for a one bed, two storey accommodation should be at least 58 square metres for a single apartment, including storage space.

"On this basis the proposal would not provide adequate habitable living and amenity space for existing or future occupiers."