Issue - meetings

This was an application for the change of use of dwellinghouse (Use Class C3) to residential home for up to 2no children (Use Class C2) at 22 Bridle Walk, Donnington, Telford, Shropshire, TF2 7SJ

This application was before Planning Committee due to the number of objections received during the consultation period.

Councillor O Vickers, Parish Councillor, spoke against the application on behalf of local residents.  Although it was understood that it was essential for good and decent homes he raised concerns regarding the suitability of the property.   He considered that the parking was ambitious and imprecise and must be installed before any residents were in situ and given the 24hr intended use and in particular at staff change overs and during visits from social workers, inspectors and family members who would access the site regularly.   The road was not a wide road and had very limited space with a number of parked cars and it was felt that the residents parking issues would be exacerbated. 

Mr S Pierce, member of public, spoke against the application and raised concerns regarding the recent increase in C2 care home conversions, the suitability of the provider, “pop-up” homes lacking the proper wrap around support or community integration and once granted councils could not easily intervene or close them down when serious problems emerged.  The proposal was for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties including absconding and aggression and he felt placing such a cohort in a 79 home cul-de-sac raised safeguarding concerns.  Further concerns raised were recent crimes on the estate, parking provision, disruption, congestion, the hardstanding would commercialise the frontage of the property and forever change the character of the street scene, the 24 hour operation of a business in a semi-detached property.  He asked Members to consider how the provider would be held accountable, what was the physical accessible route for residents to raise complaints and would the Committee be the point of contact for residents once the home was opened.

The Applicant/Applicant’s Agent were not in attendance at the meeting for their public speaking slot.

The Planning Officer informed Members that the application was situated in the urban area of Telford and considered to be in a highly sustainable location.  During the application process, amended documents were received outlining the proposed provision of care.  Initially, the proposal was to accommodate four children with this being amended to a maximum of two children, with two staff members and a manager present on site at any one time.  Staggered staff changeover times were proposed, with two shift patterns and four changeover periods per day, resulting in minimal traffic impact. Policy HO7 supported development designed to meet residents’ needs in sustainable locations.  The council’s Commissioning Team confirmed a need for this type of accommodation and raised no objection to the amended scheme.  Officers considered the proposal was compliant with policy HO7. The existing driveway could accommodate two cars, and amended plans proposed extending to four spaces, similar to nearby properties.  The Highways Officer confirmed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 55