A planning application has been submitted to convert a bed and breakfast in Acocks Green into boarding accommodation for schoolchildren. Elmdon Lodge Guest House would be transformed to house up to 20 pupils from Kimichi, a private school focused on music, located a short walk away.
Details of the proposal
The application proposes separate areas for boys and girls, with the boarding facility operating for 10 months per year. Kimichi School charges boarding fees starting from £9,334 plus VAT per term. The guest house currently operates as a B&B, and the change of use would result in its loss as a local guest house facility.
Planning statement addresses concerns
The planning application states: "The proposed change of use would result in the loss of a local guest house facility, but there are several other hotels and guest houses in the locality and wider district and certainly enough to compensate for the small scale loss." It adds that there will be busier periods at the beginning and end of term as children are dropped off and collected by their parents, but daily arrivals and departures will be staggered.
Noise and disturbance considerations
The applicant argues that 20 supervised children engaged in homework activities and quiet reading would not create more noise than existing guests coming and going. A planning statement said: "As with this existing use, the boarding accommodation will generate some noise nuisance and disturbance, pedestrian and vehicular movements from children, parents, staff and deliveries, but no more so and not materially different to the prevailing guest house use." It also noted that existing guest house customers come and go with greater turnover, while children will be more heavily supervised and managed by staff.
