Children’s home applicant who make paperwork mistake set to learn if Solihull scheme will get go-ahead

An applicant behind plans to convert a house into a residential children’s home is set to learn this week if they have been successful after coming under fire for not filling paperwork in correctly. Applicant Shayne Flaherty submitted plans for the home in Westbourne Road, Olton, in July.

Images included with the application show plans for a staff office, lounge and kitchen on the ground floor; three children’s rooms and two staff bedrooms on the first floor and a games room on the second floor. But at the last meeting of Solihull Council’s planning committee it emerged the applicant was not the owner of the property and had signed the wrong ownership declaration on the application form saying he was.

The error was originally reported by a resident who highlighted it to planning officers. Councillor Bob Grinsell, chairman of the planning committee, said at the December meeting: “It does concern me that if they can’t get a simple form right, how do you operate a facility for our children that are in care?

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“Children have to be our greatest priority and not a business scheme.” Mark Andrews, the authority’s head of planning, design and engagement services, stressed the applicant had rectified the error immediately and it would be “disproportionate” to refuse the application on those grounds.

He added any care home would also need to go through checks before children took up residence there. Councillors took the decision to defer the application and it is now on the agenda to be heard at the committee’s latest meeting this Wednesday, (January 8).

In a new report officers write: “As members were made aware at the last meeting, the site owner had already responded to confirm that he was aware of the application and had no objections to it. No further correspondence has been received from the owner.

“In addition, the application form for the development has been revised to reflect the errors identified by local residents.” Officers have again recommended the scheme is approved, subject to conditions.

The application will be heard at the meeting taking place at the Civic Suite from 6pm. The meeting is open to the public and will also be available to watch live on the authority’s website solihull.gov.uk.

Image Credits and Reference: https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/childrens-home-applicant-who-make-30717681