Inspector rejects children’s home plea
APLANNING appeal for a new children’s home in Southport has been rejected after government officials said neighbours would experience “unacceptable noise” caused by the “behavioural difficulties” of the proposed youngsters who would live there.
The plans were submitted on January 3, 2019 to Sefton Council to change the house at 1 Bridge Street into a children’s home.
But the application was refused on June 21, 2019 and according to the government official documents an appeal was lodged by a Dr Dharmana.
The main reasons plans were initially refused by Sefton Council was because it was believed there would be an oversupply of children’s homes in Southport and there would be noise issues for people living next door.
The government planning inspector’s report said: “The council have made me aware that there are 25 private children’s homes located in Southport and already approximately 220 young people from outside of the Sefton area placed in Southport.
“Furthermore, the council’s children’s services assert that the mix of children from other local authority areas, alongside some of Sefton’s own children and young people is costly for social care and other agencies.”
However, the planning inspector did not believe that if the plan for the Bridge Street children’s home were to go ahead it would mean an oversupply.
The original plan was to house four children aged between 11 and 18 with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.
But the report said that despite being sure the bosses of the home intended to have a “wellmanaged children’s home” the noise coming from the building would be too much for neighbours.
The report said: “I am sure that the appellant intends to provide a wellmanaged children’s home.
“I note that the council suggest that a management plan and an enhanced scheme of sound insulation could be obtained through the imposition of conditions.
“Nevertheless, I find that in a terraced property, such as in the case before me, its proximity to its neighbours, particularly No 3 Bridge Street, even with the best intentions, I consider it highly likely that neighbouring occupiers would experience unacceptable noise and disturbance caused by the emotional needs and/or behavioural difficulties faced by the proposed residents and the comings and goings necessary to effectively ensure the safety and wellbeing of residents.”
Because of the potential “excessive” noise, the appeal was dismissed and permission denied.
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