£1m mystery over why former Coventry children's home hasn't been sold

Confusion as Wisteria Lodge plot remains fenced off and overgrown six years after home was demolished



A million-pound plot of land that used to house a notorious children’s home still hasn’t been sold - six years after it was demolished.

It was anticipated that the land, near War Memorial Park off Earlsdon Avenue South, would be sold off after Wisteria Lodge children’s home was flattened and the proceeds would be put back into children’s services in the city.

But so far nothing has happened and now the council say the land isn’t for sale - although they wouldn't say why not.

Ward councillor Allan Andrews said he thought the site would be sold and wants the council to clarify the situation.

He said: "If council officers are saying that the land is not for sale, I would be intrigued to know why as I was previously advised that the legal issues with the land had been resolved.

“The key will be ensuring that we get value for money for the land and that any plans to develop the site are appropriate and in keeping with the Earlsdon community.

“As councillor for Earlsdon, I am taking a very close interest in this issue and I have asked officers for a further update about this site.”

The council have previously said there is a covenant on the land which restricts its use to parkland.

Three years ago a spokesman said the issue with the covenant was being investigated.

The children’s home was knocked down in 2010.

Now the 1.3 acre prime location plot in Earlsdon is fenced off and overgrown.

The cash from any sale would be a welcome boost to care budget hit by significant recent cuts.

When asked why the land remains empty a spokesman for Coventry City Council said: “It has not been sold. It is not up for sale.”

The land was originally bought by the council in 1921 as part of a land purchase to build the popular nearby park.

Before that in the 18th Century the land was a coach route notable because of its persistent problems with highwaymen.

In recent years the land has become infamous for the child abuse scandal at Wisteria Lodge.

Locals urged to fight plans to sell former Coventry children's home for development



Locals have been urged to fight plans to allow land that played home to a notorious Coventry children's home for development. The former Wisteria Lodge site in Earlsdon was put on the market earlier this year and plans to build eight homes on part of it were revealed.

However, at a planning meeting a local raised concern about a conveyance on the land where the now demolished care home sits. He said that the land was gifted to the city in 1921 and it can only be used for 'very specific' reasons.

He quoted that this means that the land cannot be sold or given away and only be used for specific charitable purposes.

"I know that the council have taken legal advice and I have seen that advice and that advice from a respected law firm in London states that the charity commission would need to see evidence of a public consultation before they would even consider revoking the conveyance," he said.

"We are also seeking legal advice and that has confirmed the advice given to the council. So to date, we have not seen any evidence of any public consultation, that begs the question, has it taken place? If so, when? And if it hasn't, I submit it puts the planning application on hold.

"So, we are opposing this application on that basis, and we are concerned that the council has not followed its own due process in regards to the law."

He also said the homes plan itself would compromise privacy and residents have concerns it will not be in keeping with the area. Concerns were also raised with issues around road access and the height of the development.

But he was told by council planning officers the conveyance is not a material planning issue that can be looked at or determined by a planning committee. That is an issue that is being dealt with by the council's legal department.

This was further explained by councillor Jackie Gardiner, who went on to say: "What you (the resident) said hasn't simply fallen on deaf ears. It just isn't part of our remit to be able to make that kind of decision.

"But if you feel you have got a strong case as to why this land should not be sold for development because it was given in trust, I would encourage you to fight it as much as you can.

"But it isn't something that we, as the planning committee, can take into consideration. We are just not allowed to do it, I have sympathy for you."

She was advised to speak through the chair, not directly to locals before she added; "It is part of this committee to make sure that the public understand that we have heard them," she said

"I was trying to explain the situation. Good luck in whatever you (the residents) decide to do."

What the planning committee does have the power to decide was the application itself. Members said that concerns raised about the impact of the proposed eight family homes to be built on the site could be dealt with at a 'reserved matters' stage.

This is because the initial application asked for 'outline' planning permission and the finer details, such as the type of homes and what they will look like, would have to be submitted in future planning applications.

The committee agreed to approve the outline application with the caveat that all of the future details for the housing proposal came to the committee for further discussion and debate.