Children’s care home at 6 Eastway, Ellesmere Port

What was proposed

The application sought to change a dwelling into a children’s home for up to two children aged between seven and seventeen.

“This application seeks planning permission to use the property as a residential children’s home, on the basis that the proposed use falls within Use Class C2 – Residential Institutions (Residential accommodation and care to people in need of care, residential schools, colleges or training centres, hospitals, nursing homes), and there will be a material change of use.”

“The written statement published by Rachael Maclean, the Minister of State for Housing and Planning on 23rd May 2023 indicates that “‘Planning permission will not be required in all cases of development of a children’s home, including change of use from a dwellinghouse in Class C3 of the Use Classes Order 1987 where the children’s home remains within Class C3 or there is no material change of use to Class C2”.”

Officer report

The site

The site is a four-bedroom detached house on a residential cul-de-sac, with two existing parking spaces and a private rear garden.

“This site comprises an existing 4-bed, detached residential dwellinghouse (Use Class C3) and its garden. The property is situated within the Ellesmere Port settlement boundary, along a residential cul-de-sac which has pavement on the opposite side of the road only. The existing dwelling has some hard standing for two parking spaces to the front, with a small grass-front garden alongside it and a private rear garden bound by a timber fence.”

“Immediately to the south of the property, between nos. 6 and 8 Eastway, is a parcel of open land under which there is a pipeline.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval because the location, parking, residential conditions and area character were considered acceptable subject to conditions.

“In this case, the proposed residential care use of the site is considered to be acceptable in this location. Subject to a condition that only 2 children/ young adults occupy the property at any one time, and that at least 4 car parking spaces are provided prior to first use, it is reasonable to conclude that the development is unlikely to give rise to unacceptable highway safety or residential amenity impacts, harm to the character and appearance of the area, or…”

“The proposal has been assessed having regard to relevant development plan policies, as set out above. Having regard to all material planning considerations, the proposal is considered to be acceptable subject to conditions. It is therefore recommended that the application be approved.”

Officer report

Consultation responses

The police supported safe management, highways raised no objection subject to parking, and the ward member called the application to committee over several concerns.

“Ward Member: Cllr Kendrick requested the application be called into the planning committee due to concerns relating to highway safety, residential amenity and harm to the character of the area, including fear of crime.”

“Highways Officer – no objection subject to a condition requiring one additional car parking space to be provided prior to first use.”

Officer report

Objections raised

Representations raised concerns about traffic, parking, activity, residential amenity, the area’s character and fear of crime.

“Issues raised in representations are summarised as follows:”

“Highway safety, due to the property being used as a business with a high volume of additional staff and visitors, limited parking on site as well as the cul-de-sac only being pavement on one side of the road. • Harm to the character of the area, due to the number of staff in the property, number of comings and goings including from emergency services as well as the individual characteristics of the children who would occupy the dwelling.”

Officer report

Who spoke

An objector spoke on the application, followed by the ward member.

Members’ questions

Members questioned fear of crime, possible parking on council land, traffic in the cul-de-sac, highway parking controls and care-home regulation.

“Members raised the following queries: • Referencing the points raised by the public speakers over fear of crime, members enquired how this could be considered in planning terms • Members advised, they felt the driveway was shown to be extending onto Council Land, therefore would the Council be willing to allow expansion of parking onto this piece of land…”

“Officers advised as follows: • In terms of considering fear of crime, officers highlighted that this was a material consideration but that the focus of this issue in planning was about creating spaces where the fear of crime was addressed and it was not for planning to consider the behaviour of occupants of a residential property in this way.”

Minutes

The vote

The proposal to approve was supported by six members and opposed by three, with no abstentions.

“A proposal to approve the application, subject to conditions in the report and the late information was passed with six votes in favour and three votes against, there were no abstentions. Decided that The application be approved.”

Minutes