Children's care home at 1 Parklands, Biddulph Moor

What was proposed

The application sought to change a dwelling into a regulated care home for up to three children, with staff present day and night.

“The submitted proposal will provide a care home facility for up to three children (Use Class C2), with each child living there as their permanent residence. The premises will be regulated by Ofsted. There will be two members of staff present on site during the day, with a house manager also on site daily.”

“Two staff members will also be present overnight, one being a sleep-in member of staff the other a waking staff member. Staff will operate on a shift pattern, rotating every two to three days.”

Officer report

Officers' recommendation

Officers recommended refusal because the property was unsuitable for the children and care staff, could disturb neighbours and would harm the area's character.

“The existing property is small, has an exposed and open plot with limited outdoor private amenity space, and has a positioning and arrangement that is close to neighbours on a tightly spaced, open plan development. The property, therefore, is not obviously capable of providing appropriate or suitable living conditions and amenity for young persons in need of the accommodation and specialist care provided by a residential institution.”

“The proposed material change of use would harm and erode the character and appearance of the area by removing garden planting and replacing it with an increased area of parking hardstanding that would be consistently parked on in an exposed and prominent part of the plot. There would also be harm in these regards, from the anticipated introduction of boundary fencing to enclose an otherwise exposed and open plot.”

Officer report

People who spoke

Three neighbours, a local resident and the ward councillor spoke against the application; a planning consultant and care home operator spoke for it.

Members' discussion

Members discussed whether the property was suitable for the intended purpose described in the proposal.

“Members discussed the suitability of the property for the intended purpose as outlined in the proposal.”

Minutes

The committee's decision

The committee resolved to refuse the application for the reasons and policies in the report.

“That the application be REFUSED 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