Councillors’ decision on retrospective children’s home plan in village of Brompton by Sawdon
Plans for a children’s home in a quiet village near Scarborough have been approved by councillors despite concerns about nuisance.
The three-bed residential property in Brompton by Sawdon is currently being used as a children’s home for two children, with staff members who are on site 24/7.
It will be regulated by North Yorkshire Council’s children and families service and Ofsted.
Officers admitted that “in practice there are problems here” but said these “may be down to individuals habiting the property at one time” and added that “these are issues that could come up anywhere, so this ultimately is a small-scale form of residential use”.
An officer noted: “These are children of all types who could be found in residential environments and if children aren’t going to be housed in residential environments, where would they go?”
No objections were made by the Highway Authority, North Yorkshire Police or the council’s housing team.
NYP’s designated crime officer did note that in a 12-month period, there were 23 incidents at the premises, which had an “obvious impact on demand for police services”.
However, officers said the concern raised about the level of care would be a regulation and licensing issue for Ofsted and the council, rather than a planning consideration.
Cllr Roberta Swiers said: “This has already been used as this facility.
“Reading the report, the police haven’t put in an objection. If they had objected, that would have worried me.
“These children need somewhere and I don’t think the answer is town centres.
“It’s a lovely area, and it’s a shame for other residents, but you have to look at it from both perspectives.”
Speaking at the meeting, Steve Triffitt, chairman of Brompton by Sawdon Parish Council, said: “These houses are family homes and should be either sold or let for people to live in within the village.”
A council report suggests that the “intensity of the use in terms of the occupancy level of adults and children within the property and the comings and goings to the property and any resulting disturbance is not materially different from that of a three-bedroom ‘family home’.”
Members of the Scarborough and Whitby Area Planning Committee voted in favour of the application with one abstention, and requested that the site operator maintain the property to a higher standard.