Councillors reject plans for children’s home in Peterborough

Plans for a children’s home in Peterborough were turned down by councillors at a meeting this week.
Planning update.Planning update.
Planning update.

Peterborough City Council’s Planning and Environmental Protection Committee rejected the plans, one of two decisions made at its online meeting this week.
Plans were put forward for Lorac Lodge, Turnpike Road, Hampton Vale, Peterborough for the ‘change of use from a single dwelling to a children’s home for up to three people.
It is understood that the proposed children’s home would provide care and support to vulnerable children and those with learning disabilities within the Peterborough area.

The plans said the home would enable the children receiving care to live as independently as possible within a registered home setting, supported living service with a tenancy or home with cared (HwC) package.

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The home would offer different levels of support, according to the service users specific needs. These services may range from everyday life challenges such as domestic duties, shopping, financial management, companionship and more intimate personal care such as washing and dressing. Specialist support and care would be provided to those people with more complex and challenging needs including people with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, autistic spectrum disorders, mental health illness, acquired brain injuries and behaviours that challenge.

No external alterations or other associated development wass proposed. Access arrangements would remain as existing.
The site comprises a detached 2.5 storey detached dwelling situated on a corner plot, situated within Hampton. The dwelling is served by a detached double garage with off-street parking spaces to front, surrounded by residential properties.
A total of 19 responses were received. Of these, 18 were objections (including the Parish Council) mostly complaining about the highways access to the property.
The case officer recommended that Planning Permission was granted subject to conditions.
Cllr Marco Cereste, as the ward councillor, said: “While I totally appreciate the aims of this venture and the dire need for facilities of this kind in Peterborough, I cannot support this application as I believe they could not have put it in a worse location.

“The people of Hampton constantly complain to me about the parking facilities in the ward, and despite the applicants claim that this property can accommodate six vehicle spaces, that simply is not the case as there are only three at best, and probably only two spaces.

“This means at shift-change times at least four vehicles will be parking on the street and this area simply cannot accommodate these additional vehicles.

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“I would urge the committee to go against Officer’s recommendation to grant this application, and refuse it on the grounds that the area simply cannot accommodate this number of vehicles parking and vehicle movements.”
Peterborough City Council Planning and Environmental Protection Committee Decision: Refused (against officers recommendation by majority, 8-3).

The second decision related to a property in Normangate, Ailsworth.
The applicant is a senior officer within the council and no objections were received.
Permission was sought for a two-storey rear extension constructed to the side of and above an existing single storey rear outrigger comprising a kitchen. It would be part single storey and part two storey in height forming a staggered arrangement. The ground floor rear extension would measure 3m in depth and 4.8m in width. The western end would have a flat roof measuring 3m from ground level with a roof light. The ground floor would accommodate a dining room. Together with the existing single storey kitchen outrigger, it would extend almost across the whole rear elevation. It would not project out from the dwelling any deeper than the existing outrigger.
The first-floor rear extension would measure 3m in depth and 6m in width. It would have a hipped roof measuring 7.1m in height to the ridge and 5.6m to the eaves. The first floor would accommodate a bedroom and a bathroom with one window to serve each room. It would be situated partly above the existing kitchen outrigger and partly above the proposed ground floor extension. It would extend across two-thirds of the rear elevation. It would not project out from the dwelling any deeper than the existing outrigger. The extension would be finished in materials that match those on the existing dwelling with the exception of the aluminium bi-fold doors.
The application site is a three-storey detached dwelling located in a residential cul-de-sac. There is a garage to the east of the dwelling with space in front for parked vehicles and a garden to the rear of the dwelling house. It is located within a modern estate constructed at the southern edge of Ailsworth. It is bounded on either side and to the rear by the adjacent residential properties on Normangate. On the opposite site of the road from the site are the further residential houses of Normangate. It is outside the Conservation Area.
Cllr Peter Hiller, ward councillor, said: “This is an established family home which the owners wish to sympathetically extend without any detriment to the neighbours.
“The only reason that it has come before us is because the applicant is a senior officer with the council, and without that association would have been approved without question – therefore I would urge members to approve this application.”
The case officer recommended that Planning Permission was granted with conditions.
Peterborough City Council Planning and Environmental Protection Committee Decision: Granted (unanimous).