Children's home extension plan near Newport gets the go ahead
A children's home near Newport will be extended, despite objections to the move.
Owners of The Retreat, in Bolas Road, Ercall Heath, near Newport, have been given permission to build a new two-storey extension – despite more than 35 letters of objection made by members of the public about the kind of work planned there.
They said that the home had an unsuitable rural location for the intended use of the business.
They also said that the access road was unsuitable, and that emergency services would have trouble accessing the site.
There were also concerns that the care home was one of a number of similar facilities in the area, and the cumulative effect on the area was too much.
Opponents said that there were no economic benefits of the intended use of the property in relationship to the local community, and that the youngsters involved could bring crime to the area.
But in a report released ahead of Shropshire Council's decision, case officer Philip Mullineux said that the use of the building was not part of the application and wasn't being taken into account.
He wrote: "The proposal is for a two-storey extension on to an existing dwelling which is classed as a dwelling unit.
"It is understood the dwelling has been in use in the past as a children's care home for the occupation of up to three children and three adults.
"As indicated earlier in this report a Certificate of Lawfulness was issued by the council on December 13.
"This established that the use of the property as a care home was lawful within the meaning of Section 191 and 192 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990
"This clearly established that use of the home for up to three children with two adults residing on site and one adult attending the site on a daily basis was lawful in relationship to use of the dwelling and as such change of use to a care home was not required.
"It is understood the applicants intend to use the dwelling in accordance with its previous use which is in accordance with the order.
"Visual impact and landscape impact is considered acceptable with consideration to the scale and design of the proposed extension and location for the development."
Shropshire Council granted full planning permission for the extension to the property earlier this month.
The work will have to be started within the next three years under the terms of the planning consent.
