Children’s care home at 14 Greenfinch Way, Newhall, Harlow

What was proposed

The application sought to change a single dwelling into a children’s care home for three residents aged between 10 and 17.

“This application seeks full planning permission for the change of use from a single dwellinghouse (Class C3) to a children’s care home (Class C2). It would facilitate the provision of residential accommodation for three children aged between 10 and 17.”

Officer report

The site

The property is a three-storey end-terrace house in a residential area, with covered side storage and two allocated parking spaces.

“The application site relates to No. Greenfinch Way, a three-storey end-of-terrace dwellinghouse located within a residential area of Church Langley North and Newhall. It shares a boundary to the north-west with No. The site is not located within a conservation area, or within the setting of listed buildings.”

“There is a gated lockable covered area to the side of the dwelling, used for storage of waste and bicycles. Fronting the property is a large triangled area of open green space, and the site benefits from two-off street allocated parking spaces to its rear.”

Officer report

Officers’ recommendation

Officers recommended approval, finding the use acceptable in character, residential amenity, parking and highway terms, subject to conditions.

“Reason for Committee Referral More than two letters of objection have been received which are contrary to officer recommendation of approval.”

“The proposal seeks permission for the change of use from a single dwellinghouse (Use Class C3) to a children’s care home (Use Class C2). It is considered acceptable in terms of character and appearance, residential amenity and parking/highways considerations. It complies with the relevant policies within the Local Plan and supplementary documents and is recommended for approval accordingly, subject to the imposition of appropriate conditions.”

Officer report

Consultees’ views

Children’s services supported the proposal, highways raised no objection, and environmental health had no objection subject to noise controls.

“No objection, subject to the submission of an internal noise scheme and management plan as condition.”

Officer report

Residents’ objections

Seventeen representations objected, citing parking, congestion, noise, privacy, neighbourhood character, refuse arrangements and pollution.

“- Parking/Highway Safety: will exacerbate local parking stress (staff changeovers, external visitors; professional visits, delivery/servicing); congestion; obstruction of access of driveways; impact mobility for wheelchair users and pushchairs; absence of travel strategy/mitigation…”

“- Refuse collection arrangements on site; impacts of bins on the visual aesthetics of the street scene; pollution…”

Officer report

Who spoke

An objector and the applicant addressed the committee.

The decision

The committee granted planning permission subject to the conditions in the officer’s report.

“RESOLVED that planning permission be GRANTED subject to the condition’s in the Officer’s report.”

Minutes

Permission conditions

The permission limited the home to three children aged 10 to 17 and required noise and operational management plans before first use.

“Prior to its first-use as a children’s care home, a Noise Management Plan (NMP) shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. This plan should address potential noise issues by establishing clear guidelines for staff, children, visitors, ingress, and egress to the premises, the implementation of noise reduction measures such as double-glazing or sound insulated garden fences and contact points for any neighbourhood complaints.”

“Prior to its first-use as a children’s care home, an Operational Management Plan shall be submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority and the use shall at all times be operated in accordance with the agreed plan. This plan shall include but not be limited to staff travel arrangements, management of site visitation, complaints procedures, security provision and occupant monitoring/review frameworks.”

Officer report