Campaigners against children’s home dealt huge blow

Campaigners against a plan to turn a Solihull property into a care home for children have been dealt a blow as the scheme is recommended to be approved next week. 

In April applicant Muhammad Shaban lodged plans to turn a six-bedroom semi-detached property into a residential children’s home with Solihull Council. 

The application for the home in Chester Road is now set to go before the next meeting of the council’s planning committee for a decision. 

The proposed development would use the existing layout of the home providing living accommodation at ground floor and sleeping accommodation on the first and second floors. 

The applicant says four car park spaces will be provided at the front of the house. 

And the applicant says a maximum of three children would live in the property at any time, with two members of staff covering each 24 hour shift.

During the consultation process 30 objections were submitted to the council.

Among the complaints raised by neighbours are:

• Noise 
• Parking issues 
• Safety concerns 
• Loss of privacy 
• Negative effect on the area
• Concerns it will be used as an HMO in the future
• Increased crime and anti-social behaviour
• Already enough children care homes in the area 

The application was ‘called in’ to the committee by Councillor Alan Feeney, who represents the Castle Bromwich ward the proposed scheme is based in and who has also objected. 

But fellow ward councillor, Leslie Kaye, said he was in support requesting an additional condition that second floor windows should be made opaque in order to protect neighbours’ privacy.

Castle Bromwich Parish Council made no objection to the scheme saying it should be “subject to the neighbours’ comments and compliance with regulations”. 

Cathryn Greenway, children’s services directorate at the authority, said: “This provider is new to Solihull but currently operates a home in Birmingham which is rated good by Ofsted.

“Ofsted will inspect the home and its policies, and interview the home manager before they consider registering the home.” 

The officer added the nearest registered children’s home to the proposed site is 2.5 miles away.

Planning officers in their report to the committee recommend approval, subject to conditions, writing: “Officers maintain the change of use would not significantly change the character and appearance of this residential street.

“The council’s highway engineers have no objection.

“The proposal will not be harmful to the character of the area, highway safety or the free flow of traffic, or residential amenity.”

The application will go before the committee’s next meeting at the Civic Suite on Wednesday, November 6. 

The meeting, which is open to the public, starts at 4.30pm.