Children’s home refused despite recommendations to approve plans

A proposed change of use from a private house to a small children’s home on a quiet street in Thornton has been refused by planners – despite recommendations to approve the scheme.

The planning officer had considered that the application for a detached property on Myrtle Avenue, on the Pheasants Wood estate, was acceptable in principle and should proceed.

But when the proposals went before Wyre’s planning committee, councillors voted against it.

They heard that 29 public objections have been received, the primary concerns being over fears of increased parking pressure, with existing parking problems being made worse, along with increased traffic movements on a quiet, residential street, potential obstruction to emergency vehicles and the impact on the quiet residential character of the area.

The application was brought to the committee by Pheasants Wood member, Cllr Andrea Kay, who raised concerns over those issues.

The planning officer’s report stated: “When one child is accommodated, both carers on duty will remain in the home overnight in a sleep-in capacity and leave at the end of their shift at the next scheduled handover.

“When two children are placed, the daytime staffing arrangement remains the same, but one carer finishes at approximately 10pm and a waking night carer attends from 10pm until around 8am, when the day staff commence duty

“The use is compatible with the surrounding residential context and is located within a sustainable location. On balance, the proposal is not considered to give rise to any unacceptable harm to neighbouring residential amenity that would justify refusal of the application.”

However, following the planning meeting, the Assistant Director of Planning and Building Control stated: “The proposed change of use would result in an intensification of activity at the site, having regard in particular to the frequency and pattern of visits by staff and visitors and an increased demand for car parking.

“The intensification of staff and visitor movements to and from the site on a regular and frequent basis, would result in an unacceptable impact on neighbouring amenity in terms of noise and disturbance.

“The vehicles associated with the proposal and inadequate parking within the site would result in an increase of on street parking which would result in harm to highway amenity and the potential for restricting vehicle and pedestrian movements.

“This is contrary to the National Planning Policy Framework and Policies of the Adopted Wyre Local Plan 2011-2031.”