Children’s home plan rejected
It was proposed for the Binley area of Coventry
Planners have turned down a proposal to open a children’s home, in the Binley area of Coventry.
The application to change the use of a four-bedroom detached house in Brunton Close, Binley, a residential cul-de-sac within the Wyken ward, has been refused by Coventry City Council’s planning team.
The applicant, Balraj Mann of LDH Trust, asked for permission to turn the property into a care home, for up to four children and several members of staff.
The council says it clarified that the applicant is not a care home provider and would choose someone to run the business, if planning consent was granted.
Neighbours objected on the grounds of increased noise, lack of parking, site security, accessibility and road safety issues.
City planners said there wasn’t enough detail provided, on the running of the children’s home, to determine if there would be any noise, or disturbance, to nearby residents.
The number of staff was variously stated to be two, three, or four and there could be an increase in the movement of people to and from the site, during professional visits and inspections. It wasn’t clear exactly how many staff, or children, would end up living there, or which regulatory body the care home provider would be registered with, they said.
Highways officers dismissed safety fears, saying the plan would not cause any hazards on the road network and there would be no negative impact on local parking.
However, the city has no requirement for any more children’s homes, the council’s report pointed out.
It follows concerns expressed by the Coventry Society, over a surge in applications, which could be intended to take in children from outside the city, when other areas are struggling to house them.
Planning officer, Andrew Tew, said: “The council has been in receipt of a number of applications for similar proposals/uses and has sought to work with Children’s Services, to ensure that applications align with the identified need, within the city.
“However, Children’s Services in this case have responded to the application consultation, raising an objection on the basis that there is no identified required need and the application provides insufficient detail, about the proposed service, or demonstrate how it would meet Ofsted and/or Care Quality Commission requirements for children’s residential homes.
“The proposal would result in the loss of a dwelling from the city’s housing stock and would fail to provide a use for local need.”
He said there were no special circumstances, to justify the proposal.
Mr Tew concluded: “The application as submitted for the proposed change of use to create a four-bed children’s home would result in the loss of a family dwelling from the city’s housing stock.
“In conjunction, the applicants have failed to sufficiently demonstrate the need for the accommodation, within the city.”
The development did not align with planning policies and the applicants hadn’t proved the proposed use would not cause noise problems, for adjoining householders.