Three-room specialist care facility at 10A Park Hill Road, Wallington

What was proposed

The application proposed changing a three-bedroom flat into a three-room care facility for up to three patients needing home mechanical ventilation.

“The application seeks planning permission for the change of use of the ground floor and basement from a 3-bedroom residential flat (Class C3) to a 3-room specialist care facility (Class C2). The facility is designed to provide 24-hour nurse-led care for up to three patients requiring home mechanical ventilation (HMV).”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The property is a three-storey detached building divided into three flats within the Park Hill Road Area of Special Local Character.

“The application site is a three storey detached residential property situated on the corner of Park Hill Road and Hawthorn Road. The building is currently divided into three self-contained flats. This application pertains specifically to the ground floor and basement unit, which currently operates as a 3-bedroom dwelling with a gross internal area (GIA) of approximately 144sqm. The upper floors comprise the flats 10B and 10C.”

“The property is located within the Park Hill Road Area of Special Local Character (ASLC). The area is characterised by large, well-maintained Edwardian detached and semi-detached family dwellings. The site is in a highly accessible suburban residential neighbourhood, approximately a four-minute walk from Wallington town centre.”

Officer report

Earlier applications

An earlier care-facility application was withdrawn over generator noise, air quality and medical-plant detail, while a 2020 residential conversion was refused.

“DM2025/01003: Change of use from Class C3 (Residential Unit) to Class C2 (Residential Institutions) involving alterations to fenestrations and part conversion of garage to house medical plant equipment with oxygen supply line and provision of refuse and cycle stores. Withdrawn, September 2025.”

“This application was withdrawn following concerns regarding the potential noise impact of a proposed diesel generator, air quality issues, and insufficient technical detail regarding the medical plant.”

Officer report

Who spoke

An objector addressed the committee about the facility’s intensity, disruption, parking, patient dignity and oxygen-tank fire risk, and the applicant replied.

What members debated

Members considered the need for care, the Area of Special Local Character, parking, traffic, emergency visits, noise and the standard of accommodation.

“Planning Committee 10 June 2026 3 In debate, the committee observed that a balance needed to be struck between the clear need for the facilities and the potential harm to residents, noting some harm had been mitigated through conditions and amendments. Concerns were raised regarding the Area of Special Local Character (ASLC), parked cars on either side of the road, additional traffic, emergency visits, and low-level background noise from the oxygen tanks.”

Minutes

The committee vote

The committee rejected the officers’ recommendation to grant permission and then agreed an alternative motion to refuse permission.

“DM2025/01316 - 10A PARK HILL ROAD, WALLINGTON, SM6 0SB (Committee Report) A poll vote on the officers’ recommendation to grant permission was held in accordance with Standing Order 31.4, when there voted: Councillor Jayne McCoy Against Councillor Richard Clifton For Councillor James Appleby Against Councillor Rukhsar Askari Against Councillor Sue Ebanks Against Councillor Sunil Kumar Against Councillor Cumar Sahathevan For Councillor Naveen Samrat Against Councillor Alison…”

“An alternative motion was proposed by Cllr Long and seconded by Cllr Askari to refuse planning permission for the following headline reasons:”

Minutes

Why permission was refused

The refusal concerned poor accommodation, insufficient evidence for losing a family dwelling, and harmful noise, disturbance, parking and vehicle impacts.

“Poor standard of accommodation due to lack of bathroom facilities and basement accommodate contrary to policy 9 and 10 (housing standards) • Lack of evidence to justify the loss of a single family dwelling contrary to policy 10 • The development, by reason of the nature and intensity (including on-street parking and vehicle movements) of use would give rise to noise and disturbance detrimental to living conditions of neighbouring properties contrary to policies 29, 34 and…”

Minutes