Children's home at 12 Welholme Avenue, Grimsby

What was proposed

The application sought to change a single residential dwelling into a children’s home for up to three children with staff providing care.

“Principle of Development The proposal is for the change the use of the existing dwelling (Use Class C3) into a children's care home (Use Class C2). The information supplied with the application (contained within the Operational Statement) states that up to 3 children would live at the property with 3 members of staff (maximum) providing care in the day and 2 members of staff during the night (maximum). This would be the children's permanent home.”

Officer report

What consultees said

Council consultees and the Environment Agency raised no objections, subject to specified information, conditions or informatives where applicable.

“The development plan for the area is comprised of the North East Lincolnshire Local Plan 2013-2032 (Adopted 2018). REPRESENTATIONS RECEIVED Council's Environmental Health Officer - No objections, subject to an informative. Council's Highways Officer - No objections. Council's Heritage Officer - No comments. Council's Ecology Officer - No objections. No BNG required. Council's Drainage Officer - No comments. Council's Tree Officer - No comments.”

“Crime Reduction Officer - No objections, subject to an informative. Emergency Planning Officer - No objections, subject to a safeguarding condition. Environment Agency - No objections, subject to an informative. Children's Services - No objections.”

Officer report

Who spoke

An applicant representative described the home as a safe, stable family setting and asked the committee to approve it.

Members’ discussion

Members discussed the home’s family character, transport, parking, responsibilities towards children in care and whether the objections justified refusal.

“Councillor Mickleburgh said that whilst it was a change of use application from a single residential home to a children’s home, it would still be used as a family home. He said that that area was badly served by public…”

“Councillor Lindley agreed with what [name withheld] had said about councillor’s responsibilities as corporate parents. He said that this application was different to the previous application as the property was smaller and it was the council providing the care rather than an alternative provider but other than that, they were very similar applications.”

Minutes

The vote

The committee voted unanimously to approve the application with conditions.

“RESOLVED – That the application be approved with conditions.”

“(Note - the committee voted unanimously for the application to be approved with conditions.)”

Minutes

The decision

The change of use was approved with conditions controlling the timing, plans, number of children, flood measures and permitted use.

“RECOMMENDATION Approved with Conditions (1) Condition The development hereby permitted shall begin within three years of the date of this permission. Reason To comply with S.91 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. (2) Condition The development shall be carried out in accordance with the following plans: Site Location Plan - PS042-25 P-001 Existing and Proposed Block Plan - PS042-25 P-002 Proposed Ground and First Floor Plans - PS042-25 P-004”

“Reason For the avoidance of doubt and in the interests of proper planning and to accord with Policies 5, 22, 33, 38, 39 and 41 of the North East Lincolnshire Local Plan 2013-2032 (Adopted 2018). (3) Condition The development shall be operated and managed in accordance with the Operational Statement (dated June 2025) in so far as the number of children are concerned.”

Officer report