Former pub and house could become teaching pod

A FORMER Staffordshire Moorlands public house with a lengthy planning history has now had plans submitted to install a teaching pod on the site.

A planning application has been put forward by Compass Community Ltd to construct the teaching pod at Windy Harbour House, Ellastone Road, Cauldon Low.

The property was converted from a public house to a private dwelling in 1998. A Certificate of Lawfulness for the existing use to accommodate residential care of young persons was approved in April 2016, then early this year planning permission was granted to convert the premises back to a dwelling. However, the change of use was not implemented.

A covering letter submitted with the latest planning application by Nick Pleasant on behalf of NJL Consulting Planning and Development, said: “Compass Community Ltd (operating as Compass Children’s Homes) are an established and regulated care provider. They have 16 similar homes for children across the UK, with many of them in former dwellings, elderly homes or older children’s homes which require refurbishment.

“The homes are operated as a care home but include education facilities which aim to meet specific and tailored educational needs for their children.”

The proposed development involves a 86-square metre teaching pod, and would be placed on hardstanding to the rear of the property. The pod includes two classrooms with their storerooms, a therapy room and quiet space, an office, toilets, kitchen and entrance hall.

The pod is to be constructed off site then placed on existing hardstanding. Some ground works would be required to connect the pod to existing utilities and positioning the levelling pads

A decision is expected to be made by planners within the next six to eight weeks.