Three-person children's home at 18 Dunston Road, Hartlepool

What was proposed

The application sought to change a dwelling into a children’s care home for up to three young people and add front parking.

“An application for a Lawful Development Certificate (LDC) was received in 2025 for the proposed change of use from a residential dwelling house to a children's care home for up to three young people (H/2025/0309). Based on the evidence provided, the development certificate could not be granted by the LPA and the application was refused on 11/11/2025.”

“The application seeks planning permission for the change of use of 18 Dunston Road, a residential property, to a children's care home (C2 Use) for up to three young people (7-18 year olds) and carers working on a shift basis. To facilitate the care home, additional car parking is proposed at the front of the property.”

Officer report

The site and its surroundings

The site is a detached home at the end of three dwellings, with residential properties and a grass verge around it.

“The application site relates to a detached property at 18 Dunston Avenue, Hartlepool. The property is a residential dwelling at the end of a section of three dwellings along Dunston Road (along with No’s 20 and 22 to the east). Dunston Road is a main transport route, and this section of the road is characterised by grass verges, with 16 Dunston Road being approximately 140 metres south west of the host property.”

Officer report

Residents’ objections

Sixteen objections cited changes to the area’s character, disturbance, safety, traffic, parking, community wellbeing and the risk of setting a precedent.

“Impact on residential amenity: noise and disturbance (including unsocial hours), activity associated with staff changes and service visits, and reduction in quiet enjoyment of property, stress, anxiety, disrupted sleep and reduced well-being for neighbouring residents, disturbance due to Police visits which occur at a nearby facility, overlooking and privacy due to the presence of staff and residents using external areas.”

“Traffic and activity levels: increased vehicle movements, staff shifts, professional visits, deliveries, servicing, pressure on parking and local roads, adequacy of parking and pressure to park on already constrained streets. Use will create congestion along a bus route with a stop directly outside.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The applicant addressed the committee, describing a small home with trained staff, high-quality care and activity comparable to a family household.

The decision and conditions

Planning permission was approved, limiting the home to three children, controlling staffing and shift changes, and requiring eight retained parking spaces.

“Notwithstanding the provisions of the Schedule to the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 and The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015, or in any provision equivalent to that class in any statutory instrument revoking or re-enacting that Order (with or without modification), the planning unit (18 Dunston Road) shall be restricted to a children's care home (Class C2 residential institution) only and for no other…”

“Prior to the completion or occupation (whichever is sooner) of the development hereby approved (as a children's care home), the proposed additional hardstanding (tarmac to match existing) to the front of the site as detailed on plan DWG AR.441.TS5.PBP (Proposed Block Plan, received by the Local Planning Authority on 28/01/2026) shall be constructed and completed in accordance with the approved plan and provision made to direct run-off water from the hard surface to a…”

Minutes