Residential care home at Laburnum House, Park Lane, Cheadle

What was proposed

The application sought a certificate for a home for up to two young people, cared for by up to four adult carers.

“Application No: SMD/2025/0475 Location Laburnum House, Park Lane Cheadle. ST10 1PD Proposal Certificate of lawfulness for a proposed non-material change of use from Class C3(a) to a residential home for up to 2 young people aged between 3 and 17 who would be cared for by up to 4 adult carers.”

“This is a Certificate of Lawfulness for the use of Laburnum House as a residential care home for up to 2 young people aged between 3 and 17 who would be cared for by up to 4 adult carers.”

Officer report

The site

Laburnum House is a four-bedroom detached home with gardens, parking and surrounding residential properties.

“Laburnum House, Park Lane Cheadle, is a two-storey, 4 bedroom, detached dwelling positioned within the Cheadle Development Boundary and to the west of the town centre. The dwelling benefits from amenity space to the front and rear which includes off-road parking and garden space. Residential properties surround the site. The site is not within any Conservation Area and the dwelling is not Listed. There are no protected trees within the grounds of the dwelling.”

Officer report

Earlier applications

An earlier certificate allowed up to two young people cared for by up to two adult carers.

“SMD/2025/0241 Certificate of lawfulness for a proposed non-material change of use from Class C3(a) to a residential home for up to 2 young people aged between 3 and 17 who would be cared for by up to 2 adult carers. Approved.”

“03/00092/FUL Detached garage and first floor rear extension. Approved.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval because the proposed use would not create a material change from a lawful dwellinghouse.

“The lawful use of a dwellinghouse, included at Class C3 of “the UCO 1987”, is broad in scope and could in association bring with it considerable activity, associated and ancillary use, or vehicle movement. The prevailing character of the proposed use would be that of up to two children living together and using the property in a similar way to that of a family home where they would be supervised and cared for by adult guardians.”

“The proposed use of the property as a residential care home for up to 2 young people aged between 3 and 17 who would be cared for by up to 4 adult carers is not considered to constitute a ‘material change of use.”

Officer report

Highways response

Highways officers found no objection, noting parking for six vehicles and requiring the parking area to remain unobstructed.

“The parking area shall be retained unobstructed as a parking area for the life of the development.”

Officer report

Objection raised

A resident objected that four carers would increase activity and cause parking, traffic and footway problems on Park Lane.

“- Application is largely a copy and paste of the previous application containing the same errors, omissions and untruths. - Four care staff on site at any one time has a significant effect on the operation of the site and its effect on existing residents. It is not a trivial change. - Question how many carers are proposed. - Applicant admits that Park Lane is narrow. - The property was not previously occupied by a family of five, it was a family of four.”

“In the instance of their being four carers on site (four cars) plus the resident "white Skoda company car" plus a visiting Managers car, that equals six, using up all the available on site parking. Then…”

Officer report

Who spoke

The applicant spoke in support of the application.

The committee’s decision

The committee granted the application for the reasons and policies in the report, with delegated authority over non-substantive wording changes.

“That the application be granted for the reasons and based on the policies contained within the report;”

“That in the event of any changes being needed to the wording of the Committee’s decision (such as to delete, vary or add conditions / informatives / planning obligations or reasons for approval / refusal) prior to the decision being issued, the Head of Development Services be delegated authority to do so in consultation with the Chair of the Committee, provided thar the changes do not exceed the substantive nature of the Committee’s decision.”

Minutes