Children’s care home at 579 Rayleigh Road, Eastwood

“Planning permission is sought for a change use from a dwelling (Class C3(a)) to a children’s/young person’s home (Class C2) to accommodate up to two children/young persons (CYP), aged 7 -18 years.”

“Site and Surroundings 1.1 The application site is occupied by a detached, two-storey, 3-bed dwelling on the south side of Rayleigh Road. The area is residential in nature. There are mature street trees to the front of the site.”

“Eastwood Brook is to the south of the site, outside of the application site. The rear/end part of the garden is within Flood Zone 2 (medium probability of flooding). No part of the application dwelling itself is within Flood Zone 2. The site is not within a conservation area or subject to any site-specific planning policy designations.”

“The proposal was amended during the course of the application, deleting a proposed widening of the existing vehicular crossover to the site’s frontage and relocating the proposed secure bin storage as well as cycle storage to within the rear garden.”

“25/01242/FULH – Erect single storey side/rear extension with roof lantern (retrospective) – Pending Consideration.”

“Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) 4.4 No objections. Suggests informative for the inclusion of water butts/planters as a cost- effective measure to improve surface water flood and drought resilience.”

“Commissioning Team, Adults and Communities 4.7 No objections. Requests condition in relation to Southend-on-Sea City Council to have first refusal for placement before taking a placement from another local authority. Comments: - There currently is a shortage of 2-person residential homes in Southend for children aged from 7 – 18 years old. This results in the council having to search and place regionally and nationally at a higher cost.”

“The development hereby approved, for purposes falling within Use Class C2, shall only be occupied as a children's and young persons’ residential care home for up to 2 residents who shall be between the ages of 7 to 18 and shall only be looked after children and young persons. Looked after children and young persons falling under the responsibility of Southend-on-Sea City Council shall be given prioritisation in the allocation process.”

“Notwithstanding the information and details submitted and otherwise hereby approved, prior to the first occupation of the development hereby approved full details (including scaled elevations and dimensions) shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority under the terms of this condition identifying the provision of secure and covered cycle storage for the approved development at the site.”