Supported accommodation at 5 Elms West, Sunderland

What was proposed

The application sought to change a dwelling into supported accommodation with seven bedrooms, an office and shared kitchen space for up to seven residents.

“When the application was originally submitted, the description of the proposal highlighted that the supported accommodation was proposed to consist of 9no. bedrooms. However, the applicant has since clarified that one of the rooms would be required for staff office use for the purposes of providing support and administration.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The property is a three-storey mid-terraced house in the Ashbrooke Conservation Area, facing landscaped open space and with rear yards and a garage.

“The Management Plan was submitted to the Local Planning Authority on 26 February 2026 and has been subject to further consultation with key internal and external consultees, Ward Councillors and neighbouring properties. The application site comprises an impressive three storey mid-terraced house constructed between 1877 and 1885. It is situated within the Ashbrooke Conservation area and faces onto a private landscaped greenspace with a number of mature trees.”

Officer report

Consultees’ views

Environmental Health, conservation officers, highways officers and the police raised no remaining objections, subject to management, travel and cycle-storage conditions.

“Internal consultees Regulatory Services (Environmental Health) - The Environmental Health Service has considered the submitted documentation and has no objection to the proposed change of use. Further to submission of Management Plan - No further comments offered. Planning Implementation (Conservation) - This application proposes a change of use from a single dwelling to shared accommodation with no external alterations.”

“Northumbria Police would request a copy of the management of the pads, including the risk assessment of the residents, as well as left personal property if a resident either abandons the property or is evicted.”

Officer report

Who spoke

A Senior Housing Manager answered members’ questions, an objector spoke against the proposal, and the Senior Housing Manager spoke for the applicant.

Members’ questions

Members questioned resident assessments, enforcement, management-plan compliance, staff travel, parking, visitor controls and how similar schemes operated elsewhere.

“Councillor Haswell enquired as to the consequences of non-compliance with regards to conditions 5 and 6 referring to the Management Plan and Staff Travel Plan. The Planning Officer advised that should the provider not be compliant then they had appropriate enforcement powers to ensure the plans were adhered to, but Planning could only seek the assurances on how it would operate in the appropriate manner and it was not their place to micromanage the operation.”

“[name withheld] referred to the Staff Travel Plan and believed this to be non- committal that didn’t address any issues or relieve any of the concerns to residents. The proposal for only one parking space to the rear would not be adequate enough for six support workers so both plans did not tally up and only one parking space was not realistic. [name withheld] commented that he could not see how the prediction had been reached that the residents would not own cars in the future also.”

Minutes

The committee vote

After questions and discussion, members unanimously agreed the recommendation to grant planning permission.

“There being no further questions or comments from Members the Chairperson put the recommendation to the Committee and with all Members being in agreement it was:-”

“RESOLVED that in accordance with Regulation 3 of the Town and Country Planning General Regulations 1992 (as amended), that Members GRANT PLANNNG PERMISSION for the proposal subject to the draft conditions listed within the report…”

Minutes

Main conditions

The conditions require a maximum of seven residents, operation under the approved Management Plan, a compliance statement, a staff travel plan and secure cycle storage.

“After 3 months but no later than 6 months of the implementation of the Management Plan approved as part of the development hereby permitted, a Compliance Statement shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The Compliance Statement shall confirm that the development hereby permitted is operating in strict accordance with the approved Management Plan as detailed in Condition 4.”

“Prior to occupation, a travel plan shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The travel plan shall include results of a baseline travel survey and a series of targets, monitoring and review and remedial measures, addressing staff travel arrangements based on the proposed level of staffing and shift change / handover times. The development hereby approved shall thereafter be managed in accordance with the approved full travel plan.”

Officer report