Plans for new children's home in Derbyshire village

Developers ABC Limes are in the process of buying Scarcliffe House, on Pit Hill, Whaley Thorns, and aim to convert it into a home for up to six children with ‘high functioning autism’.

The company has submitted a planning application to Bolsover District Council for the property, which is currently in residential use.

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Planning documents published on the council’s website say: “The property will remain in a residential use and there will be a maximum of six children living at the property, with staff travelling to the site to provide care.

“Such a residential use is entirely suitable for the character and function of the area given the authorised use of the site, and is wholly compatible with surrounding uses.

“The closest residential properties are over 100m away – and therefore the proposal will have no impact on the amenity of surrounding properties.

“Indeed, by their nature the children who will be residing at the home often have sensory problems which means they are generally quiet and avoid loud noises, busy places and bright lights, and so the proposal will not generate a level of noise greater than that associated with the existing and authorised use of site as a large dwelling house.”

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Agents for the developers also say traffic to the site will be kept to a minimum.

"The proposal requires no alterations to the external appearance of the property itself or its internal layout and will therefore retain the original fabric and character of the building as advocated by the Local Plan,” documents add.

“Within the grounds, the two existing driveways will be retained and joined to create a one-way system around and through the site.”

No major issues have been raised by Derbyshire police, Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service or Derbyshire County Council’s Highways Department.

ABC Limes say the plans fully accord with the Bolsover Local Plan 2020 and offer the opportunity ‘to provide a much needed form of specialist housing not specifically provided for in the Local Plan’.

The company says it will also ‘preserve the character and appearance of the site’.

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