One-child care home at 7 Bluebell Way, Huncoat, Accrington

“Description of the Site and the Proposed Development This application relates to 7 Bluebell Way, a detached dwelling occupying a corner plot at the junction of Bluebell Way and Sedum Gardens. It is a two and a half storey building, containing four bedrooms (one with ensuite facilities), a kitchen, dining room, living room and a lounge. The property includes an integral garage and an external car parking space for one vehicle.”

“Relevant Planning History • 11/23/0068 – Full: Change of use of dwelling (use class C3a) to residential care home (use class C2) for a mother and baby (or for 2 children) supported by up to three carers. Refused: July 2025 due to the impact on the living conditions of nearby occupants and harm to highway safety due to a lack of off-street parking provision.”

“Having too many children’s homes close together can have an impact on the effective running of both new and existing homes, and their cumulative impacts should be considered from a local community perspective. Officers are of the opinion that having a cluster of children’s home in a particular residential area is likely to present a challenge to sustain mixed, balanced and sustainable communities, and to affect the residential character and amenity of the neighbourhood.”

“Conclusions In conclusion, providing accommodation and care for looked-after children is worthy and necessary. However, according to comments of the LCC Children’s Services, there is no evidence to demonstrate that the proposed care home for one child would meet the need for Lancashire children, and in fact most solo homes in our area are caring for children from other local authority areas. As such, the proposed development would place additional demands on public services.”

“The applicant has made multiple applications and there are another two properties on the estate owned by the same business owner, one of which was operating illegally before planning was approved (sic). • The proposal would result in three children’s homes in this estate, which is disproportionate.”

“Lancashire Children’s Services has limited demand for such provision and for the small number of Lancashire children who do require a solo home, there is already considered to be enough provision in our local area to meet this demand. • There is already another children’s home (operated by the same provider within the same postcode/on the same street) and there is another Ofsted Registered children’s home within 0.33 from the proposed home.”

“Members discussed the information in the report and unanimously agreed that the application was not suitable in its current location. Referencing the close location of existing children’s homes in the area and the lack of need for this particular type of care facility.”

“Resolved – The application was refused for the reasons detailed in the officer report.”