A new children’s home is set to open in Poulton despite noise and car parking concerns after councillors heard the building could be turned into a house in multiple occupation (HMO) instead.
Wyre’s planning committee members were discussing an application for a change of use from a house to a children’s care home and a car park with access to the rear of the site, on Station Road.
There were 13 letters of objection lodged with planners, with concerns raised about issues such as noise and disturbance, inadequate parking and manoeuvring space, loss of privacy with instalment of CCTV and highway safety.
However, a report by the planning officer said that although the building was a terraced house, it was a particularly large building which would mitigate against the close proximity to neighbours often associated with smaller properties.
The applicant was listed as Mr J Wood.
The planning officer’s report for the June meeting stated: “The applicant has advised that their care homes operate in a very similar way to an ordinary family home, so any noise created would be no louder than a regular family home.
“The applicant believes on average, over perhaps a year, the care home would be considerably quieter, especially given the size of this particular property.”
The proposals were recommended for approval, and although ward councillors raised concerns over noise and car parking, the application was approved by the committee.
Coun Mary Belshaw, Labour member for Mount ward in Fleetwood, said: “Noise would be produced from anyone living at the property and this method would be more controlled.”
And Coun Stuart Fielding, Labour member for Carleton, said: “This property is large with multiple bedrooms, and if the application got refused, it might potentially be developed into a HMO in the future.”
Coun Belshaw proposed the recommendation to approve the application to the committee, and Coun Steven Livesey, Conservative member for Stanah in Thornton, seconded the proposal.
It was resolved to approve the application as per the officer’s recommendation subject to a number of conditions.
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