Autism care home plan set for approval
PLANNING chiefs are poised to back proposals to build a care home for people with autism in Widnes.
The 20-bed specialist unit on Warrington Road opposite Green Oaks Path in Halton View would be accompanied by two four-bed houses for step down care.
Condy & Lofthouse Ltd, writing in a design statement on behalf of applicants Care Developments (North West) Ltd, said the facility is intended for people with autism “and/or associated disorders who present behaviours which challenge services”.
A report published ahead of the upcoming Halton Borough Council development management committee meeting on Monday, September 6, said the planning officers had received eight representations from the public including an assertion that the plot would be “the wrong location for such a facility adjacent to family housing”, concern over a lack of detail over separation between the building and properties on Vineyard Way, and that the building would block sunlight and reduce privacy.
One commenter said the project would address a local need but should only be for Halton to use and not other council areas.
Ward councillor Rob Polhill has raised concerns over parking because the area is “built up and busy”, while Cllr Louise Whitley echoed the parking issue, adding that it could impact neighbouring roads as would refuse, and Cllr Tom McInerney questioned the need for the facility and expressed concern over possible future use.
Planning officers have reported that the scheme would not cause or worsen any issue of oversupply for this type of facility in the borough.
They said the project would have 31 parking spaces including two for electric vehicles, plus spots for motorbikes as well as pedestrian access, adding that although the number of spaces is lower than usually required, any objection on those grounds wouldn’t succeed.
The report added that the building would be a mix of two and three storeys and therefore “acceptable in respect of scale”.
Land remediation works have been demanded because of the plot’s previous uses, with a call for contaminated hotspots to be dealt with via a mix of removal and covering.
The report’s author said: “The site was previously a farm and then an industrial estate, which included a tyre sales and servicing garage.
“As a result there is a reasonable likelihood of sources of land contamination being present.
“The investigation has identified moderate contamination with metals and hydrocarbons in a number of locations across the site.
“Trace levels (below laboratory quantification limits) of asbestos was also identified across the site.
“The risk assessment has determined that those elevated concentrations are unsuitable for the proposed end use, and were they will not be located beneath hardstanding or the proposed buildings (with the exception of the single location of elevated potentially volatile contamination), some form of remediation will be necessary to ensure the site is suitable for use.
“The proposed remedial strategy is to remove the identified contamination hotspot from site, and to introduce a 600mm clean cover layer where made ground is to be left in situ.” Planning officers have recommended the scheme for approval, subject to conditions.