A PLANNING application for a children’s home near The Stow is set to go before the Harlow Council planning committee.

The application seeks to change 71 Great Plumtree from a dwelling house to a children’s care home.

One of the reasons it will be going in front of the committee is the number of objections that have been submitted.

Twelve objections have been received objecting to the proposed change of use.

Their comments can be summarised as follows:

The following objections were raised that are material to the determination of this planning application:

– Parking/Highway Safety: will exacerbate local parking stress; traffic generation

– Amenity: noise generation; disturbance; altered street; erosion of sense of local

community; loss of privacy; change of use detriment to neighbour’s enjoyment of their property

– Character & Appearance: conversion into children’s care home not suitable within a residential area; estate is a family-oriented development; change of use from dwelling to commercial operation would counter character of Mark Hall North

Conservation Area and Article 4 Direction; property is mid-terrace and inappropriate for children’s care home; and

– Existing house has minimal garden space due to extension and shed

Officer Comment: The material matters raised are considered further in the report.

The following objections were raised that are not material to the determination of the

planning application:

– Changing name of address to Great Plumtree House;

– Perceptions of crime, vandalism, drugs; theft; antisocial behaviour;

– Devaluation of house prices;

– Application lacks detail on occupancy (will children be local?); staff working arrangements and who neighbours can complain to with issues.

Company website appears basic and unprofessional; and

– Regulatory compliance/monitoring requirements

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The planning meeting is set for Wednesday May 13th, 2025.

https://moderngov.harlow.gov.uk/documents/s28234/HW%20FUL%2025%2000047%2071%20Great%20Plumtree.pdf