Ipswich council approve Constable Road children's home plans

Ipswich Borough Council's planning committee voted by seven for and four against turning an address in Constable Road into a children's home on Wednesday. 

The application, submitted by Compass Children's Homes, sought to convert a family home into a seven-bed residential home, of which five rooms will be used by children between the ages of seven and 17.

Councillor Inga Lockington told the committee it was an inappropriate location for vulnerable children given the crime in the area.

She also argued that the proposal did not meet the local plan and that the site was too small, with insufficient outside space.

Cllr Lockington did agree there was a need for a children's home, adding: "The application proposals will provide much-needed residential accommodation for those in need of specialist residential care and support, as such delivering social and community benefits."

Three members of staff will assist the children between 7am and 10pm with two present overnight. 

Conditions are to be met by the applicant including details of refuse and recycling bin storage details of boundary fences to be installed and the use should be for a children's home for up to five children and no other use of the building being allowed.

The home would serve five children aged between seven and 17 (Image: Google Maps)

Cllr Lockington was joined by 49 other residents raising objections (Image: Newsquest)

She was joined in her objections by 49 households in the area and Tom Hunt, Conservative candidate for Ipswich, who wrote to the council prior to the meeting. 

There were also concerns raised over noise and disturbance, but this was not identified by the council's Environmental Health officer as a concern.

Those supporting the children's home argued that the children this home would serve are vulnerable and in need of accommodation. 

They added that there is a high need to house these children, and hence moved to approve the application.