Decision made on children’s home in Lancashire village of Preesall

Two residents raised parking concerns over the application for a proposed change of use from a residential dwelling into a children’s care home on Meadow Avenue in Preesall.

The application, for a home accommodating up to one child and a maximum of three carers at any time, went before Wyre’s planning committee on Wednesday.

It was presented to councillors at the request of Preesall member, Cllr Claire Rimmer, citing the residents’ concerns over the impact on residential amenity.

Despite these concerns, the scheme was recommended for approval by the planning officer.

And councillors, who undertook a site visit on the morning of Wednesday’s meeting, gave the scheme the green light after applicants Coda Care said there would be no need for on-street parking.

The planning statement in support of the scheme outlined that three teams of two carers would operate a 48-hour shift pattern changing over every third day.

In addition to this, a registered manager would be on site during weekdays. The property would have a dedicated car available for staff and part of the small front garden has been covered with stone to provide an additional parking space.

At the meeting, the applicants added that the home would serve children from Lancashire and stated that the amenity was needed in the area.

After the meeting, Cllr Rimmer said, “I brought the application to the committee because of the potential impact on residential amenity—namely, the parking—which constituents had raised with me.”

“It allowed councillors to discuss the plans and objectors to have their say, if they wished to do so.

“After they visited the site and heard from the applicants, the members decided they’d answered the concerns raised and agreed to approve it.

“The committee recently refused an application because members didn’t see it as suitable for the area, but they felt this application was.”