Angry scenes as planning permission given for vulnerable mother and baby home in Harlow
News / Sat 13th Sep 2025 at 02:19pm
THERE were angry scenes at a Harlow Council planning meeting after approval was given for a mother and baby unit in a residential area.
The application sought full planning permission for the change of use from single dwelling house (Class C3) to a mother and baby/child unit (Use Class Sui Generis).
It would facilitate the provision of residential accommodation for up to five mothers and their babies/children, utilising the existing 5-bedroom layout with minor internal adjustments.
The service is primarily designed to support babies/children aged 0–5 years, with a focus on infants.
The location is 2 Sunnycroft off Southern Way in Harlow.
Two people spoke against the application.
One person supported the application.
It was approved by a majority verdict.
There were clearly voices raised after the decision was made.
Film is below
JFK1963
2025-09-13 14:27:25
Just another example of them ignoring the locals housing needs.
JFK1963
2025-09-13 14:28:31
How much did the Leftie London Council bribe 'em with////
R Rayne
2025-09-13 16:20:14
“We need to protect women and children” Then in the next breath, this. More proof that this country cares not one bit about the welfare of women and children, and these far right protests, are inherently racist.
David Forman
2025-09-13 20:05:13
The applicant made clear that the Local Planning Authority (Harlow Council) has a duty under the National Planning Policy Framework to provide accommodation encompassing a range of needs including "children that are looked after". The applicant also stated that Essex County had to place mothers and babies outside Essex since 2020 due to lack of provision and last year that number was 5 mother's. It's worth noting that Labour's Maggie Hulcoup and Conservative Mike Garnett spoke eloquently about a humanitarian need for accommodation of this type. Labour's Kay Morrison backed up that argument. However, it is worth noting the caution from Conservative James Leppard about the increasing number of family homes used essentially for commercial purposes, even if altruistic in nature. There were no objections from the Police, Fire or other state authorities. As Chair Mike Garnett made clear, there was avenue for complaints from residents in future via Essex County and OFSTED, although he hoped this would be unlikely. On balance, listening to the debate, the right decision was made.
Nicholas Taylor
2025-09-13 20:49:18
Whatever happened to the purpose built mother and baby home the council built in Sumners many years ago?
Mr George
2025-09-13 20:51:41
Just a bunch of NIMBY's. If the young mothers get help and education in a good family style home setting it can only help. These babies are our future generations, why would anyone want to complain about the help for them to be brought up safely and well looked after? That kind nurturing makes better adults.
Seamus
2025-09-13 21:51:20
I would guess these will not be Harlow mum's with their babies? If that's the case then the current qualification to go onto the social housing waiting list requires a 7 year connection with Harlow before you can even go on that list. This would mean, If a woman has a newborn entering this house, the child and mum will spend 7 years in one room just to get onto the housing scheme and then many years waiting on the list. This will be times 5 and assumes only one child per parent. If the child is older than newborn then difficulties will arise with that too. As usual you can't complain to your councillor because they are no longer representative's of the residents. They really haven't thought this through have they.
Mr George
2025-09-13 22:08:22
Why would you guess that nor Harlow mums? And why would you presume that they'd be rehomed in Harlow, just because they've come to get help in Harlow?
Seamus
2025-09-13 22:45:02
If it is a single mum and child safe house, then placements are rarely in the same town that the offence/offender are. As to your second part, we have a history in Harlow of other councils in Essex and definately from London, dumping people in Harlow and then leaving Harlow council and our services, to pick up the pieces. What should worry you more Mr George is why the applicant and council, have not mentioned two key pieces of the social care puzzle.
Mr George
2025-09-14 08:01:34
Mum and baby units are not all about people fleeing abusive partners tho. They are, up and down the country, places where mums are suffering mental health issues (among other things), postnatal depression etc where mums struggle with self-care, let alone baby care. There is nothing that I can see where these young mums will then be on a Harlow waiting list for housing, as many mums already have a home but are struggling with it all and need specialised help. If the Harlow one is different, then fair enough, I have it all wrong, but they really can make a difference and as a society we should applaud kindness rather than worry about housing and postcodes of participants.
Charlie2025
2025-09-14 09:56:40
Re: JFK1963. Ignored? I disagree with that. Bribe? I disagree with that too.
Jasper Gould
2025-09-14 13:36:21
Would they have it next door to themselves. Of course they wouldn't.
Seamus
2025-09-14 17:28:19
Tell me Mr George, does it not worry you that they did not disclose a single thing about an exit strategy for when those ladies leave? As to Applaud kindness, it is a business that charges the tax payer a shed load of cash for each user and the application already shows, worryingly financial delays in the owners accounts for two of those companies according to one of the letters.
Mr George
2025-09-14 18:08:31
Of course it's a business, as is most of the stuff nowadays, care homes, children's homes, sadly the way it is.. No, it doesn't really worry me because unless this is a completely different type of mother and baby unit, people don't stay as they have their own homes.
Tim smith
2025-09-14 20:53:50
If any of these mothers are fleeing domestic violence then the culprit sure knows where they will be living now
David Forman
2025-09-15 01:06:14
Seamus, your point about an "exit strategy" is asked by councillor Leppard at 16m 2sexs in. The answer is that after the 12 weeks assessment period the mother of will have discussions with Essex County and OFSTED "to find suitable accommodation arrangements."
Kerry
2025-09-15 06:10:27
Based on the rude outburst from the neighbours at the end opposing the proposal, I think the mothers and babies should be more worried about them being disturbed. Just a bunch of NIMBY’s. I feel sorry for the new tenants moving into the mother and baby unit having to live next to such small minded people.
Ted
2025-09-15 17:40:33
And also Nic , the one in Altham Grove
Nick Gunning
2025-09-17 16:55:52
More of the fallout from the Farage/Yaxley-Lennon right wing stirring. Now mother and baby units added to the target? The poison is spreading, and underneath most of it is not moral integrity or children's safety: it's property values. The 'lobelia growing classes' as they have been described don't want any social projects, help centres, initiatives. Nothing that might reflect on the prices paid by potential buyers or renters. Those 'reformers' have tapped into worst values of British society for their power grab and this is an offshoot.
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