Children's home plan for Cheshire property scrapped
A total of 40 objections were made
The home was planned for Regency Park on the Upton Rocks Estate.
Plans to turn a house in Widnes into a home for looked after children which prompted dozens of objections have been scrapped. The proposed project would have seen a house in Regency Park on the Upton Rocks Estate converted into an Ofsted-registered home for children aged between eight and 17.
The plans stated the home would have housed no more than three children at any one time along with staff working on a rota. A total of 40 objections had been submitted over the plans – which were put forward by not-for-profit organisation We Are Juno – and they have now been withdrawn due to restrictions placed on the property’s use.
Peter Smith from We Are Juno CIC, said: “Juno did have an interest in a property in Regency Park but the planning application has been withdrawn. “This is due to a restrictive covenant on the property.” A restrictive covenant is a legally binding condition in a property deed or contract that prohibits the owner from specific actions, such as building, operating a business, or altering the property.
He added: “We were aware of the objections and, if the planning application had proceeded, we would have been happy to meet representatives from the local community, as we have done in our other homes.” Halton Council’s children’s services department had registered support for the project, stating that the proposed services was ‘robust’ and that children’s services ‘had confidence’ that it would be successfully operated in a ‘safe and conscientious manner’.
Cheshire Police did raise concerns about the property’s proximity to Upton Rocks Park which it said had seen incidents of anti-social behaviour. In their submission to the planning department. a spokesman said: “There are ongoing issues with anti-social behaviour at Upton Rocks Park, and depending on the specific needs of the children, there is potential for the children to become involved in anti-social behaviour or to become a victim of crime.”
Mr Smith said: “Juno is a not for profit organisation, focused on improving the lives of local children in Liverpool City Region. All Juno homes are well run and all hold ‘Good’ Ofsted ratings and we are committed to being good, responsible and respectful neighbours who contribute positively to our communities.”