Agenda item

Change of use from Residential Dwelling (C3) to a Children's Home (C2).

Description:

Change of use from Residential Dwelling (C3) to a Children's Home (C2).

Officer Recommendation:

Approval, subject to conditions and informatives.

Officer Presentation:

The Committee received a presentation on the application from the Principal Planning Officer.

Public Speaking:

A Ward Councillor spoke on the application.

The Ward Councillor who called in the application spoke.

An Objector spoke on the application.

The Applicant spoke on the application.

Decision:

Following consideration, Councillor Dallen proposed a motion that the Officer recommendation be agreed.

The proposal was seconded by Councillor Kelly.

The Committee resolved (7 FOR and the Chair not voting) to:

GRANT Planning Permission subject to the following conditions and informatives:

Conditions

1)    Timescale

The development hereby permitted shall be begun before the expiration of three years from the date of this permission.

Reason: To comply with Section 91 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 as amended by Section 51 (1) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

2)    Approved Plans

The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved plans:

-       Location Plan – received 06 Oct 2025

-       139HR-DRA-03 Rev B – Block Plan – received 06 Oct 2025  

-       139HR-DRA-01 - Existing Layout Plans – received 06 Oct 2025  

Reason: For the avoidance of doubt and to ensure that the development is carried out in accordance with the approved plans to comply with Policy CS5 of the Core Strategy 2007. 

3)    Compliance with Noise Management Policy

The proposed use shall accord with the Noise Management Policy, received 5 January 2026 for the lifetime of the development, unless otherwise agreed by the Local Planning Authority.

Reason: To protect the occupants of nearby residential properties from noise disturbance in accordance with Policy DM10 of the Development Management Policies Document 2015.

4)    Compliance with Management Plan

The proposal shall accord strictly with the Management Plan – Holm’s House Children’s Home, received 19 January 2026, for the lifetime of the development, unless otherwise agreed by the Local Planning Authority.

Reason: To protect the occupants of nearby residential properties from noise and anti-social disturbance in accordance with Policy DM10 of the Development Management Policies Document 2015.

5)    Bicycle parking and charging

The development hereby approved shall not be first occupied unless and until facilities for secure, at-grade and covered parking of bicycles and the provision of a charging point have been provided within the development site and thereafter the said approved facilities shall be retained and maintained for the life of the development.

Reason: To encourage travel by means other than private motor vehicles to meet the objectives of the National Planning Policy Framework 2024 and Policies DM35, DM36 and DM37 of the Development Management Policies Document 2015.

Informatives

1)    Positive and Proactive Discussion

In dealing with the application the Council has implemented the requirement in the National Planning Policy Framework to work with the applicant in a positive and proactive way. We have made available detailed advice in the form or our statutory policies in the Core Strategy, Supplementary Planning Documents, Planning Briefs and other informal written guidance, as well as offering a full pre-application advice service, in order to ensure that the applicant has been given every opportunity to submit an application which is likely to be considered favourably.

2)    Control of Noise

You are advised that the Council does have formal powers to control noise and nuisance under The Control of Pollution Act 1974, the Clean Air Acts and other relevant legislation. For further information and advice, please contact - Environmental Health Department Pollution Section.