Children’s home at 48 Pattison Street, Shuttlewood, Chesterfield

What was proposed

The application sought to convert a three-bedroom dwelling into a children’s home for one child aged 6 to 17, with staff present continuously.

“SUMMARY The application is for the change of use of the existing dwelling to a children’s home for one child between the age of 6 - 17. The home is intended to operate with two members of staff on site 24hrs a day with a manager also on site during the day. No external changes are proposed to the dwelling.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The property is a semi-detached dwelling with two frontage parking spaces and a rear garden, surrounded by homes and flats.

“SITE & SURROUNDINGS Three bedroom, two and a half storey semi-detached dwelling (Second floor accommodation in the roof space). Existing access to the front with two parking spaces side by side on the site frontage. To the rear of the property is a garden enclosed by a timber fence. To the northeast, is a pair of semi-detached dwellings which were built at the same time as the one on site, beyond which are flats.”

Officer report

Earlier permissions

Eight dwellings replaced a public house in 2021, and two nearby dwellings received permission as one-child children’s homes in 2025.

“BACKGROUND Planning permission was granted for 8 dwellings in a row (four pairs of semi-detached dwellings) in 2021 which replaced a public house on the site.”

“Planning permission was then granted in 2025 for the change of use of two of the dwellings directly to the northeast of this site to children’s homes for one child.”

Officer report

Officers’ assessment

Officers considered the use acceptable because it met the village development strategy, caused no external change, and would not materially harm amenity or highways.

“The current proposal is considered to be small scale development which involves the change of use of an existing dwelling to the use as a children’s home within the development envelope of the village and as such the proposal is considered to meet the requirements of Policy SS3 of the Local Plan for Bolsover District.”

“There are a number of recent planning appeal decisions which indicate that children’s homes of this nature and scale are not considered to represent a material change of use of the property from a single dwelling house. As a result of these decisions this council has granted a number of Lawful Development Certificates for such proposed changes of use as the change proposed was not considered to be material.”

Officer report

Professional responses

Highways raised no objection, environmental health requested a noise management plan, and children’s services identified a need for more local children’s homes.

“Based on the analysis of the information submitted and a review of Local and National policy the Highway Authority concludes that there would not be an unacceptable impact on Highway Safety or a severe impact on congestion. Therefore, no justifiable grounds on which an objection could be maintained. Advise a condition requiring the existing parking provision of two parking spaces to be retained in perpetuity.”

“The applicant has also purchased the other new semi-detached houses on Pattison Street, (numbers 44/45 and 46/47,) and intend to apply for the same use in time. It’s understood that you can only consider the current proposal, but this is perhaps one to bear in mind when looking at the saturation of uses and their impact on neighbour amenity. Supported Accommodation Review Team: Children’s homes do not fall within the remit of the Supported Accommodation Review Team (SART).”

Officer report

Objections received

The parish council and two neighbours raised concerns about concentration, traffic, limited services, noise, loss of privacy and displacement of families.

“HISTORY 20/00551/FUL Granted Conditionally Demolition of existing public house and erection of 8 new dwellings CONSULTATIONS Parish Council: Objects to the proposal on the following grounds: 1. The proposed development would result in four care homes in very close proximity on Pattison Street.”

“The proposed use would generate increased noise and disturbance, potentially at unsocial hours and a loss of privacy. The residential amenity of neighbouring properties, including those currently occupied by families, would be materially affected. 5. The property is currently occupied as a family home. If this development proceeds, it would directly displace a family, potentially causing homelessness or forcing relocation outside the area. 6.”

Officer report

Who addressed the committee

The agent did not make a further address, while a member repeated concerns based on previous experience in children and family services.

Committee discussion

A member asked whether the two neighbouring applications could later be amalgamated, and requested that this be prevented by condition.

“A Member sought clarity on the ability, with the proposal adjacent to the previous item’s application, to amalgamate both residences in future.”

“A Member requested it be stipulated that such an amalgamation of the residences of application nos. 26/00033/FUL and 26/00034/FUL be prevented.”

Minutes