Kids’ homes plans for Hyndburn revealed

THREE proposals to turn family houses into small children’s care homes will be debated by councillors next week.

The applications will be discussed at Hyndburn Council planning committee on Tuesday.

Two requests for certificates of lawful development are recommended for refusal while one full planning application is recommended for approval.

They are the latest of a string of such proposals to come before the committee as a result of what former planning chairman Cllr Judith Addison called a ‘mushrooming industry’ in the borough in 2022.

Miss Rosma Khan-Saddique from Auxilium Living Ltd had asked the authority for permission to turn 22 Abbott Clough Avenue, Oswaldtwistle, into a Supported Living home which includes two young people aged 16 or 17 living at the property and a member of staff on a rota.

The property is a semi-detached three-bedroomed house in a residential area with a rear garden and a forecourt.

But an officer’s report to the meeting says that the lawful development certificate should be refused because: “The character of occupation would have a focus on the provision of residential accommodation and the provision of support.

“The property would be a place of work in addition to its residential purpose. It would be materially different in character and use from the use of the dwelling house used by a single household.”

The second application for a certificate of lawful use to be debated relates to 2a Allsprings Drive, Great Harwood – a semi-detached three-bedroomed house in a residential area with a garden with a driveway and hardstanding space for one car.

Mr Ikhlaq Ahmed of Aspire Care Network wishes to turn the property into a children’s home providing accommodation for two children with care provided by staff attending on a rota.

But an officers report to councillors recommends refusal saying: “The information submitted by the applicant, whilst indicating good intent as regards care of children, does not demonstrate that the proposed use would be lawful and a Certificate of Lawful Use cannot be issued.”

The third property on the committee agenda is at 6 Grasmere Close, Rishton.

Najeeb Dalal of Birchwood Children Services has submitted a full planning application to convert the three-bedroomed detached house with rear and front gardens.

The proposal is to turn it into a children’s home for a maximum of one child aged 18 or younger with up to three carers, two of whom will sleep overnight, working on a rota basis.

A planning officer’s report to councillors recommends approval despite two objections from neighbours saying: “The proposed change of use of the dwelling house to a children’s care home would be unlikely to have any adverse impact on the amenity of neighbouring dwelling houses or the residential area generally.”