Plans to convert a six-bedroom family home into a care home for a young person with complex needs have sparked intense opposition in the quiet Gloucester cul-de-sac of 15 Waterdale Close, Hardwicke. Despite concerns from over 80 local residents and Hardwicke Parish Council, the Stroud District Council’s development control committee approved the proposal on January 27.
The application, submitted by Mohammed Khan, was scaled back from previous versions to house only one child with two carers at a time, addressing some earlier objections about scale and impact. Planning officers acknowledged that the site’s existing access is “awkward” but did not find it grounds to deny the application.
Opponents highlighted several issues. Kevin Lee of Hardwicke Parish Council noted the village already has a vacant residential children’s home for 18 people, questioning the need for another. Nearby resident Tally Giampa stressed the importance of locating care facilities in suitable places with regard for child safety and community impact. He criticized the proposal as “naked opportunism,” pointing out that the applicant lacks the endorsement of the county’s children’s commissioner. He further stated that the planning officer only recently consulted the commissioner, despite an reported overprovision of children’s homes in the county.
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During discussions, councillors weighed the potential effects on neighbours against the precedent of a large family residence. While Councillor Gary Luff supported the plans with a management plan to mitigate concerns, Labour’s Dave Mathews expressed unease about the ability to provide adequate care if the child’s needs change over time. Conservative councillors Demelza Turner-Wilkes and Mark Ryder, representing Hardwicke, voiced strong opposition, with Cllr Ryder remarking, “We are trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.” Labour’s Milly Hill raised issues about the narrow driveway access.
Ultimately, the committee approved the plans by eight votes to two, with two abstentions. The decision was met with audible protests from the public gallery, prompting council staff to call for orderly conduct.