Green light to convert house into specialist children’s care home
Plans for a specialist children’s care home on Wearside creating around 20 jobs have been given the green light by city development chiefs.
SunderlandCityCouncilreceived a planning application in 2022 for a building known as the ‘Miners Lodge’ off MarketCrescentintheShineyRow ward.
The plans from Hexagon CareServicesLtdincludedconvertingtheresidentialproperty into a children’s care home with an “integrated school for residents”.
Hexagon Care already provides specialist care and education across the country at dozens of locations, including around 12 school sites.
According to planning documents, the new facility in Sunderland would be aimed at young people with autism spectrum disorders.
During council consultation on the plans, a single public comment was received in support of the proposals notingthepropertyhad“satempty for years”.
The neighbour added the proposals“seemedabetteruse of the building than turning it into flats or social housing”.
After considering the planning application and assessing it against planning policies, Sunderland City Council’s planning department approved it on Februrary 1.
Thecouncildecisionreport added: “With regards to the integrated teaching facilities, it is noted from the associated
design and access statement that these would be exclusivelyfortheinternalresidentsand
wouldnotbeaccessibletoanybody not living within the care accommodation.
“It is not considered therefore that the proposal would result in the provision of a new community facility in the form of the teaching facilities.”
Proposed site plans show how the building would be subdivided, with staff facilities, lounge areas, a kitchen, a sensory room, bathroom facilities and two classrooms at ground floor level.
On the first floor, plans show four bedrooms, ‘staff bedrooms’, bathroom and shower facilities.
Proposals also include converting a garage into a food tech area, multifunctional space and an office and wellbeing room.
A design and access statement confirms there would be a large team of staff working at the building, including staff sleeping overnight, as well as ten car parking spaces being retained.