A CHILDREN’S care company is proposing to use a new home on the Titan Wharf estate in Stourbridge as a small care home for young people.

Paramount Children Care is seeking a Certificate of Lawful Development for 7 Moorings Crescent, which it wants to use as a small home for three young people.

The application seeks confirmation from Dudley Council that the proposed use of the property, off Old Wharf Road, would be considered in planning terms a non-material change of use from its established use as a family home.

The new build property was built by Taylor Wimpey as a detached four-bedroom family home as part of its canal side Titan Wharf development.

The care company argues that a change of use, which would require planning consent, is not necessary as the building would be used like a family home.

No physical changes are proposed to the building which would be used as a residential home for a maximum of three young children, aged eight to 18, who would be supported by live-in carers.

A supporting statement provided by Simpatico Town Planning on behalf of the applicant states: “The occupiers would live as a household, receiving support and care from qualified professionals who would have a de facto parenting role and a high degree of personal familiarity with the residents, in order to provide them with a safe and loving home within a domestic, family environment.

“The property was built as a family home, having four bedrooms and a private rear garden, usually being lived in by a family of five people. It is proposed that, under the future use, the living experience at the house would continue to be very much akin to that of a conventional family dwelling.

“Under the proposal, the three resident young people would each have their own bedroom, using bedrooms 2, 3 and 4. Bedroom 1, the ‘master bedroom’, would be slept in by the two overnight care staff. Aside from the resident young people, no one else would live at the property. However, care staff would be present around the clock in order to care for the children, on the basis of a shift rota system.”

“The carers would typically be present on a two days (48 hours) on and four days (96 hours) off pattern. A home manager would also oversee the home and provide senior input into its operations. However, the manager would be based in an office off-site and would carry out their administrative duties remotely from there.

“This approach is designed to ensure continuity for the residents, in order to create a family environment in which they are able to bond with the carers who look after them during their waking hours. Care would be given in a communal environment with the young people and their carers sharing facilities in a manner akin to a family.”

The statements adds that it is not thought the proposed use would have any impact on surrounding residents in terms of noise, parking and traffic generated.