Issue - meetings

Change of use from residential dwelling (Use Class C3) to children's care home (Use Class C2), to include a bike and bin store.

Recommendation: Approval

RESOLVED: That the application be approved.

Change of use from residential dwelling (Use Class C3) to children's care home (Use Class C2), to include a bike and bin store

Officers introduced the application and highlighted the additional information in the addendum. The application was recommended for approval.

Three petitions in objection to the application had been received and two lead petitioners were in attendance to address the Committee Members. Members were presented with a Notes of Evidence document for reference. The following points were highlighted:

• The site had previously been the subject of a National Crime Agency raid for drug dealing.
• The applicant was the owner of the property, and First Chapter Homes was to care for the children despite having no track record in running a children's care home, as the company had been set up in March 2024.
• There was significant opposition to the proposal from local residents, with three petitions and over 360 signatures, as well as support from Ward Councillor Lewis, local MP David Simmonds, and the headmaster of nearby Saint Martin's School.
• The Committee was urged to refuse the application to protect the residents' right to quiet enjoyment of their homes.
• Noise concerns were raised, with the Council’s noise officer concluding that the noise would not be above the norm within a residential setting, which was contested by the residents.
• The number of people in the home was expected to exceed the norm, with four children, four carers, a cleaner, a cook, social workers, youth workers, family members, and friends visiting regularly.
• The use of restraining techniques was mentioned, with three pages dedicated to how they would be used.
• The planning officer had conceded that the procedures suggested by the applicant would not necessarily prevent potential noise and disturbance.
• Residents were expected to engage the police or local authority if there was antisocial behaviour, which was seen as impractical.
• The garden was deemed unsuitable, and it was anticipated that children would play at the front of the house.
• Valuable residential space would be lost to a commercial operation during a housing crisis. The Borough's housing buyback scheme had been announced by Councillor Eddie Lavery in 2024 and there was an acute need for housing in the Borough.

• The location of the proposed Children’s centre was unsuitable - Northwood had already lost its police station, and the nearest police presence some distance away.
• It was a strategic objective to ensure that development contributed to a reduction in crime and disorder which this application would fail to do.
• Officers claimed there was no evidence that criminal activity or antisocial activity was more prevalent or extreme in a children's care home, but this was inaccurate as evidenced by Ofsted.
• The proposal would lead to an increase in antisocial behaviour.
• The location was unsuitable for teenagers due to its lack of entertainment and amenities.
• Existing housing stock should be prioritised unless there were exceptional circumstances.
• The application was deemed speculative and incoherent, with no guarantee that the adolescents housed there would be from the Borough.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18