Solihull Council has refused a certificate of lawfulness for a proposed children's home in Olton, deeming the change of use unlawful and requiring the applicant to seek full planning permission.
Application details and refusal
New Focus Child Care Limited sought to convert a seven-bedroom family home on Grange Road into a care home for four children, with up to four carers during the day and two at night. The application was for a certificate of lawful development, which would have allowed the change without needing planning permission.
However, on June 29, Mark Andrews, the council's head of planning, design and engagement services, issued a decision notice refusing to certify the change as lawful. He stated: “Having reviewed the submitted information the proposed change of use would constitute a material change of use to a C2 use for which there is no permitted change under Town and Country Planning Order 1987. Should the applicant wish to pursue this proposal an application for full planning permission for change of use should be submitted.”
Applicant's justification
A planning statement from agents Knights argued that the change would not represent a material change of use and that “the proposal would not require the submission of a planning application.” They noted that the children placed would be aged between six and 18, with carers operating on a 48-hour shift pattern. The statement emphasised that no structural or external alterations were planned, as “the existing building as it stands provides the required level of accommodation and room sizes.” The aim was to “provide an environment as close as practically possible to normal family life.”
Similar case and next steps
This refusal follows a similar situation at a property in Daytona Drive, Millsons Wood, where officers also deemed the proposal unlawful within 24 hours. As of now, no further application has been submitted for the Grange Road site. The application (PL/2026/00059/CLOPUD) remains viewable on Solihull Council's planning portal.
Other live planning applications
Solihull Council is also considering several other applications, including: 45 Coniston Avenue (single-storey side extension), 119 Summerfield Road (two-storey side and rear extension), 5 Cheltondale Road (single-storey rear extension), 107 Broad Oaks Road (two-storey side extension, rear extension, loft conversion), 175A Kenilworth Road (single-storey annexe with pool), and 9 Stoneford Road (prior notification for ground-floor rear extension).
