Two-child residential care home at 9 High Mount, Donnington, Telford

What was proposed

The application sought to change a four-bedroom dwelling into a residential care home for two children and full-time carers, without external changes.

“This application seeks Full Planning Permission for the Change-of-Use from a dwellinghouse (Use Class C3) to a residential care home (Use Class C2) – the accommodation currently comprises:”

“The care facility would operate 24-hour, 7-days per week, 365 days a year, with staff coverage organised into three patterns. Staff would work a pattern of two days on and four days off to give consistency to the children in the home, this would mean that there would be three team changes per week with teams living in the home for a minimum of 48-hours at a time. Shift handovers would typically take place between 0730-0800 on changeover days.”

Officer report

The site

The detached two-storey home is in a residential cul-de-sac, near amenities, with parking for about three vehicles and a wildlife site behind it.

“The site lies in the Donnington area of Telford and comprises a detached two- storey dwelling with 4no. bedrooms at first floor level served by dormer windows. The property has an enclosed rear front garden and existing parking for approx. 3no. vehicles on the front drive.”

“The property is located within a residential area close to amenities and situated in a looped cul-de-sac containing mostly single-storey bungalows and a further pair of two-storey properties of a similar style. Central Hall Local Wildlife Site and Green Network is located to the rear of the property albeit this would not be affected by the proposals.”

Officer report

Earlier application

An earlier application for a certificate of lawfulness for supported living use was withdrawn on 16 January 2024.

“TWC/2024/0888 - Application under Section 192 for a Certificate of Lawfulness for proposed change of use from dwellinghouse (Use Class C3) to supported living dwelling (Use Class C3b) - Withdrawn 16 January 2024”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended delegated authority to grant permission, subject to conditions and informatives.

“It is recommended that DELEGATED AUTHORITY be granted to the Development Management Service Delivery Manager to GRANT FULL PLANNING PERMISSION subject to Condition(s) and Informative(s).”

Officer report

Why officers supported it

Officers considered the location, specialist housing need, design, residential amenity and parking acceptable, with traffic similar to a typical dwelling.

“Section 7 of the Homes for All SPD sets out the type of supported and specialist housing that is required to meet identified needs within the Borough. Accommodation for vulnerable young people is an identified need and the proposal is broadly supported by the Council’s Specialist Housing Team, although as identified in their comments in para 7.3, the Applicant has been asked to confirm they have taken the Council’s Market Position Statement (MPS) into account.”

“Policy C3 refers to the impact of development on highways and requires new development to mitigate site specific highway issues. Policy C5 refers to the design of parking and requires, inter alia, for the new development to ensure that the location, quantity and quality of car parking should reflect the density, nature, character and context of the development as well as its intended usage and relationship with the surrounding area including any foreseeable parking issues in…”

Officer report

Who spoke

A parish council representative and a member of the public spoke against the application, while the applicant spoke in favour.

Members’ discussion

Members discussed similar applications, fears about the use, possible parking problems and their responsibility towards children.

“The Planning Officer informed Members that this application sought change of use to a residential care facility for two children aged 7 to 17. Local Plan Policy SP1 supported the principle of development. This was a standard dwelling on the open market which could be purchased or lived in by anyone and had off street parking. The appearance and design would not be impacted as there were no external changes to design or scale. Internal arrangements were considered acceptable.”

“During the debate, some Members considered that there had been similar applications recently and that objections were often based on fear. It would be a standard family home with the children being well managed and parking issues could arise whoever lived in the property. Members had a duty to children as a corporate parent and there were no material consideration to refuse the application.”

Minutes

The vote and decision

The committee unanimously granted delegated authority to approve planning permission, subject to the conditions in the report and update report.

“RESOLVED – that delegated authority granted to the Development Management Service Delivery Manager to grant planning permission (with the authority to finalise any matter including conditions, legal agreement terms, or any later variations) subject to the following:”

Minutes