Councillors have approved retrospective plans to turn a house in a children's care home, despite complaints from neighbours.

The property in Earlswood Road, Birches Head has been used as a care home for one child without planning permission, and local residents say it has been a source of noise and anti-social behaviour.

But planning committee members at Stoke-on-Trent City Council have now approved a change-of-use application submitted by operator Egret Care, meaning the facility can continue to operate.

The city council had received 20 letters of objections from residents, who complained about noisy outbursts, broken windows and 'threatening' behaviour from the child at the property.

Officers had recommended the application for approval, saying concerns over the way the home is operated is not a matter for the planning system.

Ward councillor Adrian Knapper, who represented residents at the planning committee meeting, argued that it is not a suitable location for a care facility.

He said: "Over the last 12 months there's been a lot of disturbance and anti-social behaviour resulting from this property. There have been incidents where the police have been called to the property and residents have told me there has been damage to the property.

"There's continual nuisance and noise in the area which is not acceptable in a residential area. This is a retrospective application, meaning the applicant just opened the premises and the first I knew about it was when residents complained to me about the problems taking place."

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Egret Care specialises in supporting children with special educational needs, behavioural challenges and mild disabilities.

The Earlswood Road care home will provide accommodation for one child aged between eight and 17, with a maximum of two members of care staff based at the property.

Simon Edwards, from Egret Care, told the committee that Stoke-on-Trent needs children's care homes due to the number of young people in the care system, and claimed the Earlswood Road home is 'run extremely well'.

He said he had tried to engage with neighbours, and claimed his staff had been confronted in an 'aggressive' way.

Mr Edward said: "I personally have knocked on the door of five or six neighbours. Two of them accosted me. I understand that people can get quite high in their emotions.

"I will always sit and listen for a very balanced view of the child who is in care, the staff, the location and the residents. But I have to remind everyone that Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire have a lot of children that need to be placed locally.

"One thing we pride ourselves on is that all of our children are local. I grew up in the care system in Stoke-on-Trent so I know how important it is to be local."

Planning officers told the committee that there had been no objections to the application from Staffordshire Police. Members of the committee said they had concerns over the application being retrospective, but accepted that there were no planning reasons to refuse permission.

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Councillor Dave Evans said: "I get the challenge that residents often bring forward when it comes to children's homes. It's very important to recognise that no child is in the care system through any decision they have taken, and they've been through things none of us will ever have to.

"So it is important that we provide homes for children in residential settings so they get as close to a normal life as they can. Because otherwise, what may seem like a dysfunctional young person will become a dysfunctional adult."

Councillor Sue Akkurt said: "I am concerned that this is retrospective and no consultation took place. But, if this property had been bought by a family with a child with additional behavioural needs, it wouldn't be discussed today."

Councillor Ross Irving urged Egret Care to ensure the management of the home is 'as good as it possibly can be' to help avoid further conflict with neighbours.