Appeal Watch: Proposed Children’s Home Allowed at Appeal in Luton, Bedfordshire

Acting on behalf of one of our regular clients who operate privately run care homes for children, this appeal related to a property in Luton, Bedfordshire for which change of use was sought from a C3 family dwelling, to a C2 children’s home. Luton Borough Council had refused planning permission primarily on the basis that the loss of the existing family dwelling would be unacceptable and that there was not an identified need for new privately-run children’s homes.

In allowing the appeal, Inspector A Phillips MPlan BA CertHE MRTPI agreed with our case that the proposed use would not lead to the loss of a residential site, and that there was a clearly identified need for the children’s home owing to the national shortage. The Inspector was moreover not convinced by the Council’s contention that there was a sufficient on indeed an over-provision of this type of accommodation in the Local Authority Area.

The appeal reference is APP/B0230/W/25/3366487

Please feel free to contact us if you wish to discuss a proposal for a children’s home, either following a refusal or indeed at a much earlier stage.