'Supported living' complex gets the green light in this Preston neighbourhood

Eleven people with physical and learning disabilities will be housed in the two-and-a-half storey development in Ingol, after it was given the go-ahead by Preston City Council.

The authority’s planners approved the facility - on land close to St. Margaret's Church, off Tag Lane - in the face of a dozen objections from nearby residents and local councillors.

Concerns lodged by both groups included the "overbearing" nature of the building and a claimed loss of privacy for surrounding households. Residents also feared an impact on the “safety” of those living in the area if "high-risk or volatile" individuals were amongst the future occupants of the site - although the planning application for the development made no such suggestion.

Applicant Almond Estates said the scheme would provide “much needed specialist supported housing” and “represents a positive opportunity to deliver…[accommodation] that supports independence and community integration”. The firm previously said the property will be managed by Progress Housing, with support services commissioned by Lancashire County Council’s learning disability, autism and mental health and physical disabilities teams.

While staff will provide assistance with daily tasks like shopping, meal planning and laundry, they will not be present around the clock - meaning the new residents will have to be able to manage on their own for significant periods. Each apartment will have its own living, kitchen, bathroom and bedroom space.

In a report outlining their reasons for approving the project, town hall planning officials acknowledged that the nearly 10-meter-tall building would be half a storey higher than the majority of those in the vicinity, but concluded that the difference - of around two metres - would neither be “excessive” nor cause “unacceptable harm to the character and appearance of the surrounding area”.

They also judged that the plans would not be detrimental to the “residential amenity” of the building’s neighbours - but did not make specific reference to the safety concerns raised by locals.

The existing church car park will be reconfigured as part of the scheme, with application documents indicating that three of its 34 spaces would be lost. The planning officer report states that a total of 15 spaces will be created for the new accommodation.

After concerns were raised by the city council’s own waste department about the ability of its refuse vehicles to access a proposed bin storage area, the applicant offered an alternative location - should its planned use of a private rubbish collection service not materialise.