Leicestershire children's home approved for town despite numerous objections

A second children's home has been approved for the same Leicestershire neighbourhood despite objections. Blaby District Council (BDC) has approved the change of use of a house in Braunstone Town from residential to accommodate youngsters in care.

Fifteen objections were raised against the plan, put forward by Mr D Taleu for Mossdale Road. BDC does not allow the public to see the detail of the objections, so it is not possible for LeicestershireLive to state the grounds of the opposition.

The house will now change from a four-bed semi-detached residential property to a children's home to accommodate a maximum of three children aged between eight and 18 years old. No external changes have been proposed to the property.

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Plans state that the three children will be referred to the service by the local authority. The applicant said the aim of the home was to refrain from supporting young people in an environment that "appears institutionalised", instead providing accommodation that "presents as homely and comfortable".

The applicant said he acknowledged that the new use of the building could lead to increased noise and disturbance compared to a traditional family home. However, he added, the house could be converted into a five-bed house in multiple occupation (HMO), or provide foster care for three children, without the need for planning permission.

Plans note there would be a maximum of four people in total living in the home, made up of three children and one member of staff who would be on the premises 24/7. There would be 24 hour supervision at the home, with three full time staff employed at the facility, and no more than two staff on duty at any one time, which would be during shift changeover times. The planning application stated that a "minimal" number of cars would be needed at the facility, because staff would be picked up from their homes to get to work.

The applicant said he would also encourage the use of public transport and cycle-to-work schemes, and that a cycle store would be created to the rear of the property. Two off-road parking spaces would be retained as part of the plan. Visitors to the facility would be by planned appointment only, he added.

The conservatory on the ground floor would be converted into a sensory playroom for the children, the applicant said. Upstairs, the three double bedrooms would be for the three young people, and the single-sized bedroom would be used as an office and staffroom. The office would be slept in by staff members during their shifts.

Plans note that Ofsted would inspect the premises at least once a year. When consulted on the plan, Leicestershire County Council, as the Local Highway Authority, said the impacts of the development on highway safety "would not be unacceptable", and that "when considered cumulatively with other developments, the impacts on the road network would not be severe".

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