Plan for Solihull house to become residential children's home revealed

Solihull residents' chance to have their say on proposal for home to become residential children's home

A consultation is underway on a proposal to convert a Solihull house into a residential children's home. The plans for the three-bedroomed semi-detached house in Stonor Park Road, Olton, were submitted to Solihull Council earlier this week after a previous application was rejected.

In the application Shahid Khan for applicant AppleKids Care Group writes the plan would see the home become a children’s home for two children, with a manager and two carers - sleeping overnight at the site - working on a rota basis. Images included with the planning application show a ground floor plan featuring a living room, office, kitchen and staff quarters, while the first floor would include two bedrooms, a bathroom and therapy room.

The applicants say there would be no change in parking arrangements, the two car parking spaces currently on site being kept the same. In a planning statement consultants, Rose Consulting, write: “On September 26 an application for a lawful development certificate for this (change of use) was refused. This decision is the subject of an appeal.

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“The children will live at the property long term, hopefully for many years. This is not a halfway house or emergency housing for children. Evidence of need in the area is provided.

“The intention is to register the home for two children with learning difficulties or emotional and behavioural needs. It will, through OFSTED, have a stringent impact risk assessment to ensure it will integrate with the local community. It is maintained that there is little difference in planning terms between the proposed use and the current authorised use as a dwelling.

“Comings and goings would be no greater than could occur at present, hence there would be no undue disturbance to any neighbours. The local authority is therefore respectfully requested to support the application to allow this much needed facility to be established.”

A consultation is now underway, running until November 4. It is unclear if a decision on the application will be made by council planning officers or if the application will go before a future meeting of the council’s planning committee instead.

To view the plans and submit a comment search for application PL/2024/02042/PPFL at https://publicaccess.solihull.gov.uk/online-applications.

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