Plans to convert house in Endmoor into children's home approved

Westmorland and Furness Council has granted a lawful development certificate to Therapeutic Care Ltd to convert a property in Endmoor into a children’s home for up to two young persons with care provided 24 hours a day.

Councillors had previously rejected the proposals due to concerns over the site’s proximity to a nursery.

A supporting statement previously submitted by the applicant says the use of the property as a children’s home would not lead to ‘adverse effects’.

It adds: “The whole purpose and strategy of housing children in care in former dwellinghouses is that it enables the children to be given a home which is as close to a conventional home as possible.”

Members of South Lakeland local area planning committee previously rejected a plans to allow the property to be used as a children’s home – against the planning officer’s recommendations – at a meeting in June.

A decision notice issued by the council at the time states: “The proposed use, by virtue of its proximity to neighbouring residential properties and the adjacent childcare facility, would be likely to lead to adverse impacts on local amenity arising from noise, disturbance and anti-social behaviour.”

As the application is for a certificate of lawfulness, the only consideration is whether the proposed use of the property is a material change requiring planning permission, a report by council officers explains.

It adds: “The occupation of the property by up to two children with two carers in attendance is not materially different from the use of the property as a dwellinghouse.”

According to planning documents, the young people would receive care 24 hours a day by two members of care staff and a manager during the day as well as two members of care staff overnight.

In a planning consultation, councillor Janet Battye (Levens and Crooklands, Lib Dems) said: “The proposed use is inappropriate next door, in close proximity, to a day care facility for very young children, overlooked by neighbouring housing, adjacent to a main road (A65), with the possibility of some antisocial behaviour.”

The application received 41 objections from residents as well as a letter of objection from Preston Richard Parish Council.

Planning consultant Peter Winter, speaking on behalf of the objectors at the June committee meeting, said: “The residents I represent genuinely understand and appreciate the importance of providing appropriate community-based care and support for challenging and vulnerable young people who are unable often through no fault of their own to live at home.”

Mr Winter raised concern over the first-floor bedroom window of the proposed children’s home overlooking the patio of the neighbouring childcare facility.

Mr Winter added: “I seriously question the wisdom of allowing a children’s home alongside such a childcare facility and I’m astonished that no formal consultation has appeared to have been carried out by the council’s social services department.”

Louise Leech, who runs the neighbouring Cheeky Monkey’s childcare business, said in her representation to the council she feared the proposed use of the property as a children’s home would lead to increased noise and disturbance to neighbouring properties.

In the June planning meeting Ms Leech said: “As a professional working with children I understand all too well that children’s homes are needed and are a vital part in helping some of the most traumatised children in our society.

“However, the location next door to an already established childcare setting for under-fives is simply not suitable.”

The council granted a certificate of lawfulness for the use of the property as a children’s home on October 21.