Listed guest house to be made into care home
GooglePlans to convert a vacant Grade II-listed guest house into a young person's care home have been approved.
Resicare Alliance said the former Altonlea Lodge Guest House in Seaton Carew would be used as accommodation "for up to eight young persons between the ages of 7-17 years from the Hartlepool area".
There were nine objections raising concerns over noise and disturbance, negative impacts on the character of the area and the plans "exacerbating" existing parking issues.
Recommending the home for approval, Hartlepool Borough councillor Leisa Smith said the home would provide vulnerable young people "somewhere safe and stable to live" while preventing the building from "falling into disrepair".
The council committee report noted the plans would not result in an "intensification" of the site's existing lawful use, deemed parking provision as acceptable and said plans represented a "sustainable use" of the listed building.
A planning statement in support of the proposals noted the development would provide the equivalent of a "family home" for the young people in care, the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Donna Varley-Turner, chief executive of Resicare Alliance, told the planning committee the company had 12 operating children's homes across England.
The applicant added there was a council demand for "good-quality care provision for Hartlepool children" and stressed the company had 24/7 staffing and a "neighbourhood policy" to address any future community complaints.
Smith, who represents the Seaton ward, said the children's home use would prevent the "beautiful" listed building falling into disrepair, while "securing its future".
After being put to the vote, the change of use was unanimously approved by the planning committee.