Agenda item

Ward

Ashford North and Stanwell South

Proposal

Change of use from Residential (C3) to a young adult's care home (C2)

Recommendation

Approve the application subject to conditions as set out in the Recommendation section (paras. 8.1, 8.2 and 8.3).

Description: Change of use from Residential (C3) to a young adults’ care home.

Additional Information: The applicant has submitted amended plans showing the bicycle store only within the proposed plans (instead of as previously shown within the existing plans). In addition, the smoking shelter has been removed from the existing and proposed plans.

Consequently, Condition 2 (approved plans) should be amended to:-

The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved plans 02_18EdwardWay_ExistingBlockPlan_V2 Revision V2, 03_18EdwardWay_ProposedBlockPlan_V2 Revision V2, 01_18EdwardWay_LocationPlan_V2 Revision V2, 06_18EdwardWay_ElevationsAndSections_V2 Revision V2, 04_18EdwardWay_ExistingPlans_V2 Revision V2 and 05_18EdwardWay_ProposedPlans_V2 Revision V2 Received on 03.12.2024,

02_18 Edward Way _ Existing Block Plan_V3_Revision V3

03_18EdwardWay_ProposedBlockPlan_V3 Revision V3, 04_18EdwardWay_ExistingPlans_V3 Revision V3, and 05_18EdwardWay_ProposedPlans_V3 Revision V3 Received on 27.03.2025.

Modification to Condition 4 is required to refer to bins rather than cycle storage. Consequently, Condition 4 should be amended to:

Prior to the occupation of the development, details of the cycle bin storage facilities shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The agreed facilities shall be installed prior to the occupation of the development and retained thereafter.

Public Speaking:

In accordance with the Council’s procedure for speaking at meetings, Mr Davis, Lansdowne Housing & Care Ltd spoke for the proposed development raising the following key points:

·         Lansdowne Housing & Care does not have a contract with the Home Office or HM Prisons or Probationary Services

·         The Company provides housing care and support services for a range of vulnerable persons including children and young adults with a range of abilities and disabilities

·         The property will have 24-hour staffing and CCTV internally and externally

·         All children in the property will be assessed and matched to ensure that they meet the shared needs of the others in situ

·         The residents will be supported by specialist and expert staff eg social workers, therapist, educationalists and qualified support workers

·         The property has been risk assessed and found to be in an appropriately conducive environment best suited for children and young adults who need a home

·         As most of the children will be under the age of 17 years and unable to drive there will not be a large increase in the number of vehicles parking in and around the property

In accordance with the Council’s procedure for speaking at meetings, Councillor Geach provided the Chair a written statement as Ward Councillor against the proposed development raising the following key points:

·         Ofsted approval should be sought before this application is considered

·         Does the facility meet local needs in a location accessible to the community served? Residents in Edward Way feel that it does not.

·         The parking provision is not adequate

·         Noise and disturbance would arise from the full occupation of the property and would give rise to a material harm

Debate:

During the debate the following key issues were raised:

·         The application was only for a change of use and no adaptations to the property were planned

·         Property location is too remote for the young children to be able to walk into Staines

·         There might be a potential rise the level of noise from the property that would impact on surrounding neighbours

·         The parking provided at the property would be inadequate and could result in additional cars being parked on the road

·         Many of the residents had objected to this application

·         Provision of care for young children is important but this property was not suitable due to its locality

·         Planning permission for the change of use would have to be granted before Lansdowne could apply for a licence

·         The electricity supply and plumbing may need upgrading to meet the needs of large number of residents in the property

·         A number of the objections are based on the perceived negative reputation that young people attracted

A recorded vote was requested by Councillor Howkins

Decision: The application was approved subject to the above amendments.