Care home did not need planning permission

Neighbours of a care home for vulnerable teens which opened without warning in Rutherglen have been told the facility is being properly managed.

People living near the Burnside home - where two youths staged a rooftop protest in August - have questioned how Inspire Scotland was allowed to open a home for teens in a private house.

The home opened last year, just days after neighbours were notified looked after children would be moving into the property.

But South Lanarkshire Council said because the property is being used as a family home for the youths, a change of use planning application is not required.

Further, planning permission was not needed for the garage which was converted into office space earlier this year as it was considered permitted development.

Pauline Elliott, head of planning and economic development, said:“The use class of this property is class nine: houses - defined as one where houses are occupied by a single person, or a number living together as a family, or as a household of five or less.

“In this case, the planning service is satisfied that Inspire Scotland Ltd have provided sufficient information to demonstrate that the property operates within class nine and as such a planning application to change the use is not required.”

The home hit the national headlines in August when two teenage girls climbed out of a window and onto the roof before being talked down by firefighters.

Neighbours argued the incident was one of many incidents when police were called to the house, arguing the quiet street was not the right location for the care home.

A report, published by the Care Inspectorate, however recently rated the quality of care and environment at the home as very good.