Children's care home plan on Whalley Avenue, Bolton approved

The plan to transform the house on Whalley Avenue, Johnson Fold, into a children’s home with two bedrooms and three members of stuff had provoked six letters of objection.

Concerns ranged from a lack of parking to possible anti-social behaviour, but a Bolton Council report said comings and goings from the home would be similar to a normal family house.

The report stated: “The children will attend full time education at school, the daily operation of the home will be similar to any other home with the young persons coming and going for education purposes and the adults coming and going for work purposes.

“Overall, the comings and goings to the property will be similar to the existing 3-bedroom family dwelling within additional visitors/professionals from time to time.

The plans have now been approved (Image: Eznat)

“It is therefore not considered that the proposal, by way of the shift changeover or additional visits, will have an undue impact on the amenity of neighbouring residents.

“Some concerns have been raised by residents regarding noise.

“Taking into account the number of residents proposed, the nature of the use and the proposed internal layout of the property, it is not considered that the noise generated by residents will be dissimilar to the existing use of the building as a 3-bedroom family dwelling.

“It is not considered necessary that a condition to enhance insulation between shared party walls is required.”

The house is believed to have been vacant since around 2019, with the plans to convert it having been submitted on Wednesday, May 29 this year.

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Bolton’s Council’s children’s services had said that they would not be able to support the application, but the report said that this did not count as a planning consideration.

It said: “There are known significant high-risk activities in the immediate area, children’s services would be highly concerned that, due to the lack of consultation with the local authority, the provider will not have considered the potential risks to children and young people.”

It added: “Whilst the above comments are acknowledged, they do not raise any material planning reasons which could substantiate a reason for refusal.”

Bolton Council announced that the bid had been approved on Tuesday, July 16.