'Decision day' over divisive plans for special needs care facility in Sunderland

Sunderland City Council's Planning and Highways Committee will rule on the plans for the new care centre at Red Gables in East Rainton on Monday

Plans for a contentious care facility in Wearside, aimed at supporting disabled children and their families, are set to be decided upon by councillors next week. Sunderland City Council’s Planning and Highways Committee will make a decision on the proposed new care centre at Red Gables, a five-bedroom detached property in East Rainton.

The facility is expected to serve children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families, with the total cost of purchase and conversion estimated at £1.7 million.

The plans come in the wake of the controversial closure of respite care services at Grace House in November 2023, which sparked significant campaigning from affected families.

Together for Children (TfC), which provides children’s services on behalf of Sunderland City Council, has been involved in the planning application. The proposal includes adapting the property for care use and staffing it fully to cater for up to five children aged between 5 and 17 years.

The goal is to offer a venue for daytime outreach, group activities and short breaks. According to a council report, this would "permit children and young people the opportunity to socialise, while, by extension, also affording parents and or carers short-term respite from their care-giving responsibilities".

Proposals for Red Gables were first submitted in December, 2023 but have faced issues since, including more than 80 objections in an initial public consultation, physical amendments and a “legal technicality” which saw the plans withdrawn earlier this year.

At that time, the council's consultation exercise had garnered nearly 200 comments in support of the facility. However, when the plans for the care facility were resubmitted in August 2024, the tide seemed to turn with objections now surpassing supporting comments during a new council consultation.

The resubmitted plans drew 48 objections, citing various concerns from the "unsuitable" location and impacts on the area's character, to loss of "community cohesion", diminished privacy and increased noise. Predicted noise impacts were attributed to occupants, emergency vehicles and increased staff and visitor traffic.

Many neighbours also voiced worries about highway safety impacts related to access arrangements and heightened traffic levels. Additional concerns included potential events at the property affecting wildlife, criticism of the council’s planning consultation, and one objector even claimed that the proposed development would be a "social experiment".

While several objectors clarified they were not against the care facility per se, they suggested finding an alternative location. One objector proposed "there has to be properties already out there, where every need of the children could be met and also what [is] right for existing residents".

The resubmitted planning application has garnered support from five representations, including parents of disabled children who have countered the objections. Some supporters have dismissed the objections as "speculative comments" permit children and young people the opportunity to socialise, while, by extension, also affording parents and or carers short-term respite from their care-giving responsibilities "assumptions".

They have also challenged concerns about noise and the suitability of Red Gables as a care facility, arguing that the development would be "an asset to the community" and that the parents would be "good neighbours". One advocate highlighted the dire need for care provision following the closure of services at Grace House, stating that the Red Gables project would create "a beautiful and safe home [...] for complex needs children who require and deserve our help".

Another supporter implored: "I urge the committee to approve this application so our beautiful children have somewhere they can relax and unwind and give the parents the much needed respite that they require."

Sunderland City Council’s planning department, in a report published ahead of a decision-making meeting next week, has recommended the Red Gables care facility plans for approval.

Council planners said the proposals would “provide a specialist form of residential accommodation” in a “sustainable location”, which would “be in keeping with the residential land uses / character of the immediate area”.

It was also noted that no objections had been raised by the council’s environmental health team over “noise and general disturbances” and that the development would be “appropriately managed 24/7” with “no unacceptable impacts” in relation to residential amenity.

The council committee report adds: “The council’s transportation department (the local highway authority) has raised no objections to the proposed development in relation to parking provision and highway safety, subject to continued compliance with conditions, as recommended.

“Northumbria Police have raised no objections to the proposed development in relation to crime and anti-social behaviour. In all, it is considered that the proposed change of use of the dwelling to a short break care facility for children would have no unacceptable impacts. The proposed development would cater to a specific housing need in which there is demand for within the local authority area.”

Project bosses previously hoped the care centre at Red Gables would open in Autumn, 2024.

However, a presentation to councillors last month said that even if planning permission is agreed in October, 2024, it could still take “up to 18 months for the home to open”, which suggests a potential opening date of spring 2026.

This was due to what the presentation described as “necessary legal activity including registering the home with Ofsted, essential renovation work and the recruitment of staff”.

A statement published on Together for Children’s website added the previous withdrawal of the Red Gables plan was due to a “legal land-related issue which was unfortunately out of our control” and that the resubmitted plans were “almost identical to the previous”.

A final decision on the planning application rests with councillors on the Planning and Highways Committee, who will next meet on Monday, October 7. Registered speakers will have the opportunity to speak on the plans, before committee members discuss the proposals and take a vote.

The meeting is scheduled to take place at City Hall from 5.30pm and will be open to the public.

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