PLANS for a new residential children’s care home in Fearnhead are being recommended for approval.

An application proposing the change of use of number 1 St Bridget’s Close, from a dwelling to a residential children’s care home, will come before the development management committee at its meeting next Thursday.

The committee is being recommended to approve the application, subject to conditions, with delegated authority given to the development manager to make non-material changes to planning conditions and reasons ‘as may be necessary prior to the issue of the decision’.

According to a report to the committee, the dwelling is situated in an established residential area and the property has a rear garden and benefits from parking for two vehicles on a gravel area at the front of the house, with a further two spaces on an existing paved driveway at the side of the dwelling.

The proposal has been put forward by iCare Solutions, a registered care provider for children aged 0-18.

It is proposed that the site will provide 24-hour supervised care and accommodation for up to three young people between the ages of six and 17 who require residential care.

A total of 14 individual neighbour consultations were carried out – while 29 letters of objection have been received as a result of the publicity given to the application.

Reasons for objection based on material planning grounds include, as summarised, concerns about ‘noise and disturbance of staff and visitor comings and goings’, concerns about ‘noise levels of the cared for children’, concerns that volume of waste will cause ‘environmental issues’, there being no space to park on the road in this area and it would increase on-street parking, it being an ‘unsuitable location’ and will worsen existing problems with ‘inconsiderate parking’, and the public consultation process not including enough residents.

In the report to the committee, it says the proposed change of use of a dwelling to a residential children’s care home is considered to be acceptable in principle, subject to a condition to restrict the specific use and the number of children to that proposed.

“It has been adequately demonstrated that the home would be operated to mitigate any impact on the amenity of neighbouring occupiers and the surrounding area and the proposal would not adversely affect the highway network,” it adds.