Children's care home at 5 Kewferry Road, Northwood

“This application at no. 5 Kewferry Road, Northwood, seeks full planning permission for the change of use of the existing dwelling (Use Class C3) to a residential care home (Use Class C2) for up to four children / young persons between the ages of 10 and 17 years old.”

“No. 5 is a two-storey residential property with accommodation within the roof, located on the western side of Kewferry Road, Northwood. The property is of brick construction with render at first floor level, and is characterised by a hipped tile roof, front, rear and side dormers, two storey front gable projection, and single storey lean-to side projection. The property benefits from off street parking to the front, in addition to front and rear gardens.”

“The property lies within a residential area, predominantly characterised by detached, two storey dwellings of varying style and character. To the south of the site is the Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School. A public footpath runs between the school and the application site, adjacent to the southern boundary , providing access to Holy Trinity Church, a Grade II listed building which is located further to the west.”

“A full list of the planning history relating to the property can be found in Appendix 2.”

“The site history relates to the domestic use of the property and surrounding protected trees. None would be directly relevant to this application.”

“This application seeks full planning permission for the change of use of the existing dwelling (Use Class C3) to a residential care home (Use Class C2), for up to four children / young persons between the ages of 10 and 17 years old. No external changes or additions are proposed, save from a modest expansion of the existing parking area to the front of the site.”

“The proposal would retain three of the existing first floor bedrooms and the second (loft) floor bedroom as bedrooms for the children, whilst the smallest existing bedroom on the first floor would be converted to a staff bedroom. The ground floor would largely remain as existing, with only the dining room being converted to a staff room.”

“The proposed development would result in the loss of a C3 Use Class dwelling. However, a residential care home also serves as a form of residential accommodation for a specific section of the community. Furthermore, the proposed development would aid in meeting an identified need for C2 Use Class accommodation in the Borough and London as a whole.”

“A maximum of four children would be accommodated within the care home, to be secured by a condition. The overall scale of the proposal is modest, comprising a small residential care home that would be domestic in appearance, rather than a larger commercial care home facility.”

“5319/APP/2025/3066 RESOLVED: That the application be approved as per officer recommendation. 6.”