Permission granted to transform two Hemel Hempstead houses into children's homes

As part of the plans, each of the properties are set to become home to three children, aged between seven and 18, who are in care.

The decision marks the latest step in the council’s ongoing drive to increase the number of children’s residential places within the county.

Currently, according to the county council, “limited” residential care provision means that some Hertfordshire children have had to be placed in “distant locations”.

But these homes, say officials, will enable more children in care to remain closer to their families and to the communities they know.

The decision to grant the change of use and planning permissions was taken by a meeting of the county council’s development control committee on Wednesday.

And at that meeting councillors were asked to consider each application individually – alongside the objections that had been lodged by residents.

As part of the proposals, councillors heard that a two-storey property would be adapted to include a rear dormer extension. With additional accommodation in the roof space, there are plans for three bedrooms for children and one for a staff member on the first floor and a further bedroom/office on the ground floor.

And the home, it was reported, would be operated by the county council, with a minimum of two staff members present at any one time.

In advance of the meeting, residents had raised concerns about increased noise and disturbance, loss of privacy from the dormer window and anti-social behaviour.

There had been suggestions that it would result in an over-concentration of care-related properties in the neighbourhood and alter the character of the area, with further concerns raised about traffic and parking.

There were, it was reported, 17 responses received as part of the public consultation – of which 14 raised objections. And at the meeting, two residents – Nicola Catlin and Gerry Lane – highlighted their concerns to the committee.

In recommending approval, officials suggested the development would “deliver a much-needed care home within Hertfordshire” – and that the resulting building would “be in keeping within the wider residential setting”.

And the application was granted after a majority of the committee voted in favour of it being allowed to go ahead, with just one abstention. Meanwhile, the application for the second property also sought permission for change of use, to enable the property to care for three children, aged between 7 and 18.

Internal and external changes are also planned at the property to provide bedrooms for three children and a staff member, as well as bathrooms, an office and a snug.

According to the report presented to the committee, the majority of the 15 consultation responses suggested residents did not have an objection to the provision for children in the care of the county council.

But, it said they “are of the opinion that this location is not suitable”.

Among the concerns raised – and highlighted to councillors – was that it would undermine the quiet nature of the road and would be out of keeping with the residential character of the street.

It was also suggested that there would be activity at unsociable hours and increased disturbance and that it would add to the parking pressure in the area.

At the meeting, head of children’s commissioning and brokerage Veronica Bennett acknowledged that there were “often misconceptions”.

But she said the council was committed to working with the community to “build understanding and trust”.

And she said the homes were expected “to integrate within the community and to have minimal community impact”.

She told the committee that there would be regulatory oversight of the home by the county council and by Ofsted.

And she said the children placed in the homes would be carefully assessed, matched and supported by qualified professionals.

Individual children, she said, were likely to stay in the home for around two years, with the home expected to provide the stability and necessary skills for the children to lead successful adult lives.

She told councillors there would be two staff members at all times, with the addition of a manager during the week.

And she said that they were “committed to working with the local community, ensuring that the children’s home is a positive addition to the area”.

Local representative Cllr Adrian England (Liberal Democrat, Hemel Hempstead Town) also addressed the committee.

He said he had been assured that the settings “rarely become a focus of local concern”.

And he said: “Experience shows that once a home is registered and operational, and children begin living there, the community quickly sees the benefits it provides and recognises the minimal impact it has on the surrounding area.

“I have been to the site and seen for myself how it fits into the street. It is clearly not an institutional setting. There is no indication that it will begin to look like an institutional setting.”

Cllr England suggested that the site could provide off-road parking for at least four vehicles – with no need for there to be more than two or three even at busy times. So he suggested parking would “almost always” be on the driveway.

Following the debate, the committee voted to grant the application, with seven councillors voting in favour and one abstention.