New children's care home approved despite crime and vandalism fears

[dutchman]

The six-bedroom property would house vulnerable children aged between 12 and 17



Plans to turn a six-bedroom Coventry house into a children's care home have been approved despite concerns it could spark a rise in anti-social behaviour. Rock House Support Services were last week given permission to turn 340 Tile Hill Lane into a home to care for up to five vulnerable children aged between 12 and 17.

There was one letter of objection to the planning application and planning officer Jo Orton acknowledged people's "genuine concerns about the potential for an increase in crime, vandalism, prostitution."

But he concluded there was little evidence this would happen and said the home was currently being used as a house of multiple occupation (HMO) without any problems.

"In this case crime and disorder is rather a question of individual behaviour and appropriate management, as opposed to the multi-occupation of the premises," he wrote. No changes to the inside or outside are planned and the location is "sustainable," Mr Orton concluded.

The house was previously used as a small office for Rock House Support Services. In 2019 the council gave the owners the green light to turn it into a children's care home, but a year later it was converted into a HMO.

The new home is set to have five members of staff, four full-time and one part-time. The owners would be the care managers and on-site during office hours.

A Planning Statement prepared by ACBuckley Architectural said: "This house will provide hands-on everyday care for children living as a single household and will be like many everyday related households, living, working and playing together across the city and the country. It will remain a family home and will not be any different to any other house or home around Tile Hill Lane and local areas."

[dutchman]

By "vulnerable children" they mean juvenile delinquents.