The conversion of a house into a children’s home in Woodley has been approved despite neighbours’ fears over parking and a ‘significant increase’ in traffic.
The homeowner in Woodwaye applied to convert the three-bedroom property into a home for up to two children who receive care support. The future occupants would be aged between nine and 18, and will be supported by a maximum of four social care staff.
The conversion project was hit with objections from neighbours who raised concerns about parking difficulties and an increase in comings and goings as staff go to and from the site.
Woodley town council’s planning and community committee objected to the project, arguing not enough parking would be provided, and that the change would lead to a ‘significant increase to traffic at varying hours of the day’.
The committee also agreed with neighbours that the children’s home would be ‘out of keeping’ as the surrounding homes are all residential.
During its meeting on March 12, neighbours attended to voice their opposition to the application.
However, the conversion project has since been approved by Wokingham Borough Council’s planning department.
Judging the application, a planning officer pointed out that the property comes with four off-street parking spaces.
A planning agent for the applicant stated that there would be two full time care staff at the children’s home, making use of two of the parking spaces, with the remainder being reserved for visitors.
Accepting this, the council planning officer wrote: “External visits from relevant professionals (i.e. social workers) would be on an occasional basis, limited in nature and not a matter of day-to-day routine.
“This would not be dissimilar to elderly and social care visits.
“In addition, given the nature of the proposed use, it is considered very unlikely that future occupiers would have car ownership, therefore the available parking on site would be used either by staff members or visitors to the site.”
The conversion was judged acceptable and approved by the borough council’s department last month.
The approval of the project was acknowledged by Woodley town council’s planning and community committee at its latest meeting on April 1.
Councillor June Taylor (Labour, Bulmershe) said: “The point we raised was around the parking and that was clearly covered off in the council reply.
“I’ve been talking to a couple of um householders down there about it and have talked them through how it’s got approved and what it all means.”
You can view the approved application by searching planning application 250114 on Wokingham borough council’s planning portal.
