Plans to open a children's care home on a Cheadle housing estate have sparked dozens of objections from residents – and fears the facility will devalue their own properties.

If the change of use is approved for the four-bedroom home on Millers View – and conversion of a detached garage at the address into a two-bedroom bungalow – up to four children aged between eight and 16 will live there, with a maximum of four carers operating on a shift basis.

Planning permission was granted for the garage conversion last year but the work has not taken place. The latest application is recommended for approval too by planning officers at Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, but has been referred to the planning committee for consideration because it is "locally controversial".

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council has received 68 objections from residents in response to the application. Concerns include highway safety issues due to the narrow road which has no footway or turning area, as well as increase in noise from vehicles and lack of facilities, such as a play area for potential care home residents.

There has also been a petition submitted, containing 120 signatures. Cheadle Town Council has objected to the plans because of highway issues and vehicle movements associated with the property.

There has also been a petition submitted against the plans, containing 120 signatures (LDRS).

Louise Lewis of Millhouse Drive said: "The property is based on an estate in Cheadle which is already experiencing a lot of anti social behaviour. I am frequently overhearing community police officers stating that they have a real problem with the youngsters in the area.

"I further object because once the application is granted – should it be so – the use can then easily change to another class C2 residential institution such as a half way house. I believe the change will devalue my property and others.

"We pride ourselves on the estate for knowing each other and acting as a community. I feel this will have a detrimental impact on the same."

Millers View resident Peter Dunn said: "The Millbrook estate is a small estate of only 97 dwellings, there are no children's playing facilities on the estate to occupy the proposed residents of the application. I feel that the proposed increase in traffic by the seven proposed parking spaces of this application will compromise the safety of road users, either those on foot or those in vehicles.

"The proposed application will have an adverse affect on the quality of life for the existing residents in the immediate vicinity of the property due to increased vehicle access and potential noise levels, particularly during staff change over periods during the day or night. In addition, this proposal will almost certainly have an adverse affect on the value of surrounding properties and the potential problems that may be incurred when attempting to sell the properties."

Megan Richardson of Millbrook Way said: " I do not believe that there is sufficient space to accommodate additional traffic on this estate. I object to the change of use from residential to business.

"The space where the garage was built was supposed to be a playground for children which never materialised. Now the application intends to convert it to a business – this feels like planning by stealth.

"The application impacts on the safety of our children due to increased number of vehicles. The application does not provide reassurance about the safety of the residents within the building."

Staffordshire County County Council's highways department and the district council's environmental health team have raised no objections however. And the local policing team has deemed the home as "low to medium risk", a report to the planning committee said.

It added: " In terms of low risk, there is nothing to suggest that community tensions are heightened or are likely to be heightened with the introduction of a residential care home. Cheadle compares favourably with the rest of the county, with an overall crime rate 16% lower.

"However, of concern is the fact that the most common crime offences are violence against the person and sexual offences. Historically, there have been issues with younger persons becoming involved in disputes between one another and also larger groups/gangs.

"In terms of vulnerable addresses or others of note in the immediate vicinity, this would be classed as medium risk. There are two other residential care homes for young persons within the near vicinity of the application location."

A questionnaire submitted as part of the application stated there would be parking for up to seven vehicles on the site and the home would be registered with Ofsted. It added: "The (proposal) is to house low risk children and each resident will have different needs and requirements for support.

"Every child/resident will have their own room. It is unlikely that parents will be visiting the residents at the property on parental visits as these visits usually take place off site, however, if this was the case, these meetings will be organised and monitored to ensure that they are staggered and limited to one meeting taking place at once."

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