Fate of care home ramps to be decided after neighbours complain they ‘lower the tone of the neighbourhood’

A retrospective planning application is to be decided next week, for ramps to the front and back of the property, at 24 Spinneyfield, Moorgate.

The plans were brought to the planning board in February, which decided to defer the application to allow residents more time to comment.

A report to the board states that four residents with carers are present at the property during the day, which is described as supported living accommodation for residents with disabilities.

It adds that the accommodation enables vulnerable adults to lead as‘normal and as independent a life as possible’, and ‘provides important facilities’.

Planning officers say that the application relates only to the external ramps, not the use of the property – but 15 objections have been sent in by residents, who complain that the residents are ‘causing nuisance’, and branding the ramps an ‘eyesore’.

A petition signed by 30 residents has also been given to the council, disputing the use of a residential property as a supported living home.

However, the applicant states that the accommodation falls within the dwellinghouse use class and does not require planning permission to run the home.

The dwellinghouse use class allows up to six people to live together, including those receiving care.

Councillors on the planning board must decide if the use of the property falls under the category of residential institution or dwellinghouse.

A report by planning officers states that as the current occupants of the property have a tenancy agreement with the landlord and form a household together, ‘the council is of the opinion that the use falls within the [dwellinghouse] use class and as such does not require planning permission for a change of use’.

Objectors raised concerns about an alleged covenant on the property, but the council says covenants are a ‘private civil matter’ and will not be considered as part of a planning application.

Anti-social behaviour issues are also ‘not be considered as part of this application and in any event are not untypical neighbour disputes’.

The full application can be viewed here.