Young families assessment centre at 1a Aylward Road, London SE23

The site and surroundings

The three-storey detached house has a large yard and is in a mainly residential area near schools, a medical centre and public transport.

“DC/24/138323 Application Date: November 2024 Applicant: [the applicant]: The change of use from C3 (dwelling house) to Use Class C2 (Residential Institution) at 1A Aylward Road SE23.”

“Is this report easy to understand? Please give us feedback so we can improve. Go to https://lewisham.gov.uk/contact-us/send-us-feedback-on-our-reports 6 The site is located in Flood Zone 1 but has a critical drainage designation. The site is located within a Local Open Space Deficiency Area. Transport and accessibility 8 The site is located in a PTAL 2/3 area indicating average access to public transport.”

Officer report

What the agent said

The agent said the organisation supported vulnerable young mothers and babies, operated under Ofsted regulation, needed more capacity and used staffing, overnight support and controlled visits.

Questions from members

Members asked about bedroom numbers and capacity, and discussed accessibility; officers explained the storage area would become a fifth bedroom and accessibility was outside the application.

“That the area labelled as storage would be converted into the fifth bedroom, the area of which was significantly larger than the existing bedrooms.”

“In response to questions from Members, the applicant’s agent explained that the plan included in the report was the existing floor plan, which did not show the fifth bedroom. However, the proposed plan demonstrates how the storage area would be converted into a bedroom, and this space appears to be notably large.”

Minutes

The committee vote

Councillor Bernards moved the recommendation, Councillor Warner seconded it, and the committee voted unanimously.

“In reaching a decision on the application and considering submissions made at the meeting, Councillor Bernards moved the recommendation on the proposal, which was seconded by Councillor Warner and voted upon.”

“MOVED, SECONDED and Unanimously RESOLVED to AUTHORISE the Head of Planning to GRANT PERMISSION subject to conditions and informatives, including those set out in the report as are considered appropriate to ensure the acceptable implementation of the development.”

Minutes