A move to convert a house into a children’s residential home has been backed by councillors despite receiving nearly 30 objections.

Sandwell councillors approved a planning application to convert the four-bed family home in Addington Way, Oldbury, into a residential home for up to three children.

A total of 29 objections were lodged against the application by neighbours. Objectors said the residential home would result in parking problems, more noise and an added risk of anti-social behaviour. 

The application was backed by Sandwell Council’s planning committee at a meeting on October 23.

At the meeting, one objector said the owners of the home did not have the interests of the community at heart.

“They don’t live here,” she said. “We are talking about Sandwell here. They live in Wolverhampton so at the end of the day they cannot sit here and talk about community, we are the community. My parents, the neighbours, they are the community.”

The applicant, Sukhraj Duhra of Nurturing Homes said children should not be “sidelined to industrial estates” and needed a “loving and caring environment.” “And this is what that is,” he told councillors. “I don’t understand why [a children’s home] shouldn’t be in a residential area,” he added. 

“These children are being victimised, these children are being treated as criminals” he said adding that claims the residential home would lead to a rise in crime and anti-social behaviour were “absolutely rubbish.”

The same objector said staff visiting the residential home would “cause a lot of movement during the day” and the number of cars would not be the same as the existing home. Cramped parking in the narrow street was already a hazard, the objector told councillors. Four parking spaces would have been provided and Sandwell Council’s highways officers raised no concerns.

Several councillors questioned the assumption that converting a house into a children’s residential home would directly lead to a rise in anti-social behaviour. Cllr Abid Hussain eventually called for the application to be approved saying that all children deserved a fair chance. 

A report by the council’s planning officers published ahead of the meeting on October 23 recommended the application be approved. 

“The proposed change of use would be acceptable in this location and would not harm the living conditions of neighbouring occupiers, with particular regard to traffic movements, noise disturbance and highway safety,” the report said.

A ruling was expected to have been made at the local authority’s planning meeting in September but was pushed back to allow councillors to visit the family home in Addington Way before making a decision.