Plans for a new children's care home in Stoke-on-Trent have been given the green light by councillors despite concerns over parking. The care home is set to be located on Kendrick Street in Longton.

The home will provide long-term accommodation for up to two children, aged eight to 17. It will cater for youngsters with emotional behavioural difficulties or learning disabilities and due to the nature of the property being near railway lines risks assessments for each child will be carried out.

Local ward councillor, Chris Robinson ensured that the planning committee was given the chance to debate the care home. He told the planning committee: "My problem with it is the area, there is a block of six properties, semi detached properties but right by the side of the six properties are a great big row of elderly people's bungalows. 

"They are terrified of what this is going to bring to their quiet enclave of a street and what the repercussions could be. I think the parking and the vicinity of the elderly people's bungalows isn't the right area to put this as a children's care home."

No statutory authority raised any objection to the application. However concerns were raised by the highways authority over the usability of the proposed car parking spaces.

The home will provide long-term accommodation for up to two children, aged eight to 17 (Nub News).

Planning agent Michael Askew told the planning committee that prior to the care home being open an open day will be held. This will seek to provide an open dialogue between the care home and residents both for any further concerns but also to address any concerns prior to opening the home.

He said: "It is not surprising that developments of this nature can raise concerns from local residents. However, the applicant has a track record of delivering well run care homes within North Staffordshire and has committed to engage with local residents in order to promote positive outcomes between children in care and local communities."

Committee chairman, Dan Jellyman integrated the applicant over the proposed parking provision which the architects plans showed two cars having the ability to park in front of the property. He stated: "It would be impossible for two cars to actually park like that in reality.

"How do you access the property because unless you're incredibly slender you couldn't really push past them could you."

Planning agent Laura Richardson replied that the original plan was to extend the boundary, in line with the property plans, this would have enabled a car to be parked as the side of the property. 

She said: "It would be a squeeze, it would be a squeeze. It's not ideal, it's not how we wanted it to look but given the amount of work involved with putting a car down the side that was what the architect came up with. 

"It would be tight, it may be difficult, it would be difficult to get in and out. So if we were unable to put the parking on the front we would have to use the on-street parking."

Previously the highways authority questioned whether both of these parking spaces would be usable in practice. A parking officer clarified the position stating: "In this case you have got that vast area of green space so you're not particularly putting anyone else out. So that's what led us to our decision. Whilst we would concur that the parking that's been shown on the drawing probably isn't going to be used because of its constraints." 

Councillors expressed their discomfort with the application however the committee voted for approval in line with the officers recommendation by seven votes to four.

-------

READ MORE: Closing date for Stoke City store in Hanley confirmed 

Free from clickbait, pop-up ads and unwanted surveys, Stoke Nub News is a quality online newspaper for our city.

Subscribe to our FREE weekly newsletter email HERE - just click the 'SIGN UP' button.

Please consider following Stoke Nub News on Facebook or Twitter.