Eslandcare.co.uk

[Bramleyboy]

We live in a very small village, no shop, church or pub! in the countryside. The house next door to us is owned by someone who has many houses to rent. We have just learned that the house is to be let to a company called Esland, based in Belper, Derbyshire. They house mentally disturbed and troublesome teenagers from the age of 7 to 17. I am terribly concerned about this on several fronts. Can a domestic house be let to a business in rural England ~ just like that? Is there anything I can do about it? Any advice or pointers would be most welcome and gratefully received. Thank you, Bramley.

[hc4361]

Phone your council planning department. They can tell you if they've had any applications for the property.

[EDDIE51]

If it is just being used as a residence rather than a business ( which is what this looks like) there is nothing you can do. You would have a case if it was being used as a B&B or hotel, but not if is just going to be a home for teenagers disturbed or not.

[EDDIE51]

hc4361 No planning permission is needed to use it for the purpose stated as it is not a change of use!

[hc4361]

It's a change of use from C3(a) to C3(b) or C3(c), like this one from the same company

http://www.daventrydc.gov.uk/swiftlg/MediaTemp/45829-101733.pdf

[EDDIE51]

That change does not require a planning application it will be automatically granted.

[hc4361]

But the council will still be aware of it, Eddie. When a similar tried to buy a property near to me last year the council informed me. It didn't get permission.

[Dogsbody2]

HC. The document you quote is a request for a certificate of lawful development. It is applied for to the planning department but it is not a planning application. It is the applicant saying, "I don't believe planning application is required, please confirm you agree".
As Eddie correctly says a change within the suffix within class C3 is not a change of use - the use class is still C3.

[chanel5]

Maybe you are prejudging the issue a bit too much. I live near such a home for troubled youth (it is not Esland, but is run by a local authority) and I know of several others in the nearby area. Young people who live in such sheltered accommodation have usually suffered indescribable psychological trauma in their short lives, and they need to be accepted, trusted and treated normally by the (luckier) rest of us, otherwise what hope do they have for any kind of future? Your fears are understandable, but my experience is, that the carers in these homes are responsible and aware of the issues surrounding the presence of these young people, and they try (when they are pemitted to do so by the local community) to integrate the youngsters and show them a life as close to normal as possible. Many people I know who had originally been fearful of interacting with the residents of such homes became involved as volunteer helpers, and have found that their own lives have been infinitely enriched by the experience. It is natural to be fearful of something we perceive as a threat to our comfort and even our wellbeing, and we are inclined to over-emphasise the threat, and ignore other, possibly positive, consequences. But please do not close your mind firstly to the overwhelming need of these young people for a normal life (they have to live somewhere) and secondly to the sense of pride and achievement that you would undoubtedly gain from the development of compassion and understanding for them.

[Dogsbody2]

I could perhaps add that the planning authority could turn around and say, no, we think that constitutes development and you need to apply for full planning. There is an element of interpretation possible by the LA here.

[Bramleyboy]

Thank you very much for your input. I am relieved by channel5. Thank you, Bramley.