Residents who objected to new Olton residential children’s home set for disappointment
A final decision on whether a three-bedroom semi-detached house can become a new children’s home is set to be made next week.
Shahid Khan for applicant AppleKids Care Group originally applied for permission for the address in in Stonor Park Road, Olton, last October after a previous application failed.
Solihull Council was asked for consent to change the use from a C3a dwelling house to a C2 residential children’s home for up to two children, with a manager and two carers, who would sleep there overnight, working on a rota basis.
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Images submitted with the planning application showed a ground floor plan featuring a living room, office, kitchen and staff quarters, while the first floor would include two bedrooms, a bathroom and therapy room.
But during a consultation held in November 10 neighbours flooded planners with objections, raising issues including:
- Traffic and parking impact
- Depriving the area of a residential dwelling
- Safety concerns
- Noise
- Concerns over future expansion
- Precedent for future HMOs in the area
The authority’s planning officers recommended the application be approved by the council’s planning committee, subject to conditions.
A report said: “It is not considered the use of this detached three-bedroom property to accommodate two children with a maximum of four support adult staff will result in any undue impacts on the amenities currently enjoyed by the occupiers of any neighbouring or nearby dwellings.
“The site layout clearly shows three vehicles can park on the drive, with space for bins and for people to access the site frontage.
“The highway authority raises no objection to the proposed change of use.
“The proposal will not be harmful to the character of the area, highway safety or the free flow of traffic, or residential amenity.
“The development benefits from the presumption in favour of sustainable development and the planning balance is firmly in favour for this proposal.”
The application can be viewed on the authority’s website by searching for application PL/2024/02042/PPFL at https://publicaccess.solihull.gov.uk/online-applications.
The planning committee meeting, which is open to the public, is being held at the Civic Suite from 6pm on Wednesday, March 5.
The meeting will also be available to watch live on the council’s website solihull.gov.uk.