Plans for Cleveleys children's home approved

The 29 Coronation Road bungalow will be converted into a home for children in care aged 10 to 17, by Morvern Care Centre owner Raj Shah.

The nature of care is 24/7 support, with no live-in carer, and is set to create jobs for eight people, planning documents showed.

As part of the conversion, the roof will be lifted and a single-storey rear extension built.

Council planners approved the scheme in a meeting on Wednesday (September 8) despite several objections from neighbours and a councillor.

Jubilee councillor David Walmsley, who has "kept crime street data" for the last decade in his ward, objected on behalf of constituents: "The residents on Coronation Road, together with the adjoining Ellerbeck Road, are in the main retired people.

"They are very aware that their neighbourhood is significantly crime-free compared with other parts of Cleveleys and they are very anxious to retain that status quo."

Some residents' objections included concerns of "driving down house prices in the area," and "litter, social disturbance and property damage."

The potential for anti-social behaviour was cited in all objection letters, with concerns about the absence of a live-in carer for children under 18.

But Wyre Council planners said "these are general concerns that are not objectively justified."

Addressing the objections, the committee said: "The Council's Environmental Health Officer responsible for contamination has raised no issues/concerns with regards to this proposal.

"It is not considered that the scale, nor type of use proposed in itself in this residential setting, would increase significantly the disturbance or public safety risk caused to nearby residents.

"The associated extensions to the property are not considered to result in any adverse impacts to neighbouring amenity, nor to the visual amenity of the street."