Violent disruption and repeated police visits at Derby street sees children's home plan refused

Controversial plans for a Derby house to be converted into a children’s home have been unanimously refused because of concerns about frequent violent disturbances on a city street. A planning meeting heard how Alvaston residents were getting fed up with repeated police visits, loud noises and “explosive arguments” in Courtland Gardens surrounding the property in question.

When it was declared the plans had been refused, loud cheers and applause was heard from the public gallery, which included concerned residents from the street whose lives have been “severely disrupted” in recent months.

Owners of the property, J24 Resourcing Ltd applied to Derby City Council for the home to operate as a provision of care and accommodation for two youngsters aged between 10 and 17. A planning statement said the proposed home would have six members of staff working on a shift basis.

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But it was alleged during the meeting the property is already being used as a children’s home (supporting one child) without planning permission. And there was often trouble.

One resident told the planning committee meeting on Thursday (November 14) that the property involves “countless police arrests” and “violent disturbances involving smashing of furniture and threatening of care staff all of which we and our children are exposed to”. He also said there had been “explosive arguments” heard and claimed staff were scared to park their cars close by in case they got damaged.

He said there were other concerns too about increased traffic and parking on the “small cul-de-sac” and claimed neighbourhood discussions with J24 Resourcing Ltd had not happened because they had been “refused”. However, a representative from the firm said at the meeting it was keen to work with neighbours.

Derby South MP Baggy Shanker was also against the plans. He said at the meeting: “I’ve been contacted by almost every resident at Courtland Gardens who have raised concerns about this planning application. This property has been in use since May as a residential care facility crucially without any planning permission. I think that raises questions about the suitability of this provider.

“It has significantly disrupted the lives of those on Courtland Gardens. The issues include increased traffic and noise pollution, light pollution, repeated visits from the police and other professional organisations.

“There has been a total lack of communication on the operator’s behalf. I myself have written to the operator but two weeks on have not had an acknowledgement.”

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Derby City Council had recommended the plans to be approved with conditions. The council said from a planning perspective “it is considered that it would be very difficult to argue that such a small-scale residential care facility in this location would be so detrimental to neighbour amenity that it should warrant refusal.”

This was despite police objecting to the plans. But members of the planning committee were adamant on refusal despite the officer’s report and recommendation.

Blagreaves councillor Sara Bolton said: “Today we have received photographs and emails from residents with actual evidence of what is going on at Courtland Gardens. If this was in my ward and my residents were having to put up with this, I would be speaking against this.

“In my view this is unacceptable in a residential area. I think we have got grounds to refuse it. Firstly on a community safety aspect and secondly on unacceptable behaviour – the police are against it.”

Alvaston South councillor Tim Prosser said the provider “had shown no respect for due process” and added that the firm was not listed with Ofsted as a service provider. He said: “The residents have been severely impacted – so much so with 24 hours of it being occupied every resident had contacted me. I’ve never seen such a swift and concerned reaction from residents.”

The plans were refused. The applicant has right of appeal.

A representative for J24 Resourcing told the planning committee: “In the course of the planning process we have worked proactively with the council to address planning-related queries. The information so far has shown all planning queries and concerns have been addressed including highways, waste collection and amenity. The applicant has been very keen to work with neighbours to address non-planning issues such as installation of CCTV.

“We have had an instance where a neighbour has approached a young person asking sensitive questions regarding care issues. We feel these can be addressed in the proper channels as it would be threatening to the young person.“

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