Children’s home at Ringstones, 1 Kingsdown Lane, Swindon

The site and surroundings

The site is a 0.89-hectare part of a care home’s back garden, surrounded by homes, a field and a caravan park.

“The application site is an irregular shaped plot of land located to the south of Kingsdown Lane, Blunsdon, behind Ringstones. The plot is 0.89 hectares and currently forms part of the back garden of Ringstones, a detached former dwelling now in use as children’s care home. To the north there is a small field across Kingsdown Lane, this benefits from an extant outline planning permission for 2 dwellings. To the north, east and west are residential properties.”

“In context, the application site is adjacent to ‘Kingsdown’ which is an allocation site in the Local Plan. Swindon Borough Council Planning Committee have resolved to grant outline planning permission (subject to a Section 106 agreement) at Kingsdown for: A mixed use development comprising up to 1,552 dwellings, a local centre, a primary school, public open space, landscaping, new vehicular accesses including a bridge across the A419 and…”

Officer report

Earlier applications

An earlier, larger children’s home proposal was withdrawn after concerns about foul wastewater drainage; other site permissions are listed.

“Relevant Planning History and Associated Applications: Application Number: S/21/0900 Status: Withdrawn Description: Erection of children’s residential care home (Use class C2). Application Number: S/20/1516 Status: Grant Description: Change of use from a C3 Residential Dwelling to a C2 Children's Residential Home. Application Number: S/OUT/19/0218 Status: Grant Description: Outline application for the erection of 1no.”

“However, this was for a 4no bedroom home, extending to 1.5 storeys, with rooms in the roof space. The application was withdrawn primary because of concerns regarding foul waste water drainage.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval because the proposal’s social benefits outweighed policy conflict and its impacts could be controlled through conditions and mitigation.

“At present the Council cannot demonstrate a housing land supply as required by the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). This means that for applications involving the provision of housing, the policies which are most important for determining the application (such as Policy SD2) are deemed to be out of date and the application should be considered favourably unless the proposal conflicts with specified NPPF policies or the adverse impacts would significantly and…”

“Officers conclude that the proposal is in broadly in accordance with the relevant polices and guidance, where some conflict arises in terms of accessibility, this is outweighed by the other material considerations in this case. It is therefore recommended that planning permission should be granted subject to the North Meadows mitigation payment being secured and the suggested conditions as set out in this report.”

Officer report

Who spoke

A ward councillor, the agent and three objectors addressed the committee.

Members’ discussion

Members heard that conditions would secure new drainage, manage amenity, protect trees and deliver biodiversity improvements.

“The responses provided by officers to questions raised as part of the Members only discussion can be broadly summarised as follows:”

“The proposed design in fit for purpose, given the location and the type of building. • The conditions proposed would require new sewage systems to be in place and functioning prior to any occupation of the new building taking place, were consent to be granted. • Conditions 3 and 4 proposed by the Case Officer would address concerns as to the amenity afforded to residents of the children’s home, in the event that the proposed building is constructed.”

Minutes

The vote and decision

A proposal to grant permission with the reported conditions was seconded and carried unanimously.

“Councillor Neil Hopkins proposed granting planning permission, subject to the conditions set out in the Case Officer’s report. Councillor John Ballman seconded the proposal. The motion was carried unanimously.”

“Resolved – That planning permission be granted, subject to the conditions set out in the Case Officer’s report.”

Minutes