COUNCILLORS have refused to grant a certificate of lawful use to turn a family home in Clayton-le-Moors into a small children's care home.

Hyndburn Council's planning committee ruled on Wednesday that the change to the house in Lynwood Close was too great and would need a full planning application to be submitted.

Blackpool-based Therapeutic Care Ltd had sought a 'Certificate of Lawful Use' for the house as a home for up to two young people (no older than 18 years of age) with care provided 24 hours a day by up to two non-resident carers and one manager working in shifts.

In August 2022 Cllr Judith Addison now chairman of the borough's planning committee expressed concern over the 'mushrooming industry' of turning family houses into small care homes.

A planning officer's report told Wednesday's meeting: "The application relates to a detached three-bedroomed dwellinghouse in a residential area.

"The dwelling is set within a garden, has a detached garage and a driveway from Lynwood Close sufficient to park several cars

"In the light of both the concerns raised by local residents and the complexity of the issues raised when considering applications of this type, the council has sought legal advice.

"The supporting statement states that: “It is not proposed to carry out any external alterations, or internal physical alterations.

"Essentially, this property will therefore continue to function in very much the same way as it does as a dwellinghouse.”

"The submitted floor plans show that one ground floor room would be used as a staff office.

"It is probable for child safeguarding reasons and regulation, that some internal adaptations would be made, such as lockable doors to ensure personal space; installation of fire doors/alarm/appliances; and, possibly CCTV/monitoring devices.

"Whilst these would be internal features they would indicate that the character of use of the building would differ materially from that of a dwelling house occupied by people living together as a household.

“The character would be as a workplace with a daily routine of staff attending and leaving work.

"It would be an institutional use, albeit small in scale.

"Although there would be substantial endeavour to create a domestic setting, the primary purpose would be to provide care for the children in a manner that would have to bear scrutiny by outside agencies.

"The property would be a place of work in addition to its residential purpose.

"It would be materially different in character from the likely use of the dwelling house used by a single household and a certificate of lawful use cannot be issued."