Agenda item

Full: Change of use from Dwelling house (C3) to use as a residential children’s care home (C2) for the accommodation of 2 children with 1 sleep in staff member.

Mr Adam Birkett Head of Planning and Transportation presented the report to the committee.

The application set out a change of use from a Dwelling house (C3) to a residential children’s care home (C2) for the accommodation of 2 children with 1 sleep in staff member.

No external changes to the building or to the external areas were presented and the 2 existing car parking spaces retained.

Objections had been received from 7 neighbouring properties along with Altham Parish Council.

Hyndburn Borough Councils Environmental Health Team recommended to refuse the application due to the high volume of noise complaints received from premises which would identify as planning use class C2.

Lancashire County Council Highways and the Senior Commissioning Manager raised no objections.

The application was recommended for approval subject to the conditions listed in the report.

The members of the committee discussed the application and noted the proposed property as a semi-detached house. Members considered the impact of the home on the attached neighbour in reference to the existing complaints received by the Environmental Health team.

The committee emphasised that they have always made decisions that they felt were right for Hyndburn and while they understand the importance of having these homes they needed to be in appropriate properties in appropriate areas.

Resolved – Members voted against the officer recommendation and Refused the application due to:

1) the property’s changed character and intensity of use, specifically; the increased likelihood of noise and disturbance arising from the comings and goings of vehicles; intensified levels of activity including movement of staff and visits by healthcare practitioners/other support services, having an unacceptable impact on the residential amenity of neighbouring dwellings, and

2) the property’s location on a busy main road, resulting in an unacceptable risk to the resident(s) of the care home,

With delegated authority given to the Head of Planning and Transportation to finalise the wording of the reasons for refusal.

N.B 1. Altham Parish Councillor Rennie Pinder – Spoke against the application.

·         As per the report there are already 2 operational children’s care homes under 1 mile away from the site. Stated that this changes the character of the area especially considering the lack of local children being placed in these homes.

·         Notes that other children’s homes in Hyndburn have already been highlighted to the Environmental Health Team due to noise disturbances.

·         Explained that while Lancashire County Council Highways may have no objections, speed surveys conducted by Altham Parish Council show a max speed recorded on 55MPH on a 40MPH road. Showcasing the dangers of the location.

       2. Janice Ralph – Spoke against the application.

·         As a neighbouring resident stated that the properties themselves have very thin walls which allow for the travel of noise to enter into the attached property.

·         Doesn’t agree that the model replicates that of a family situation.

·         States that the majority of residents have lived in these properties for 20+ years and the introduction of the care home would dramatically change the profile of the area.