Permission granted on appeal for home for children in state care in Tipperary
Planning permission for a home for teenagers in state care in Tipperary has been granted on appeal by An Coimisiún Pleanála, overturning a refusal by Tipperary County Council.
Compass Child and Family Services CLG had applied to Tipperary County Council to change the use of a home at Gortussa, Dundrum from residential to a care in the community dwelling house for children in care.
The house would have space for four minors, who would be supported by a staff of nine social care workers, and would be designed to “replicate a domestic home as closely as possible,” according to planning documents.
However, last year, Tipperary County Council refused planning permission for the change of use due to concerns about the site that the house sits on.
"The application site is removed from a designated settlement (0.7km from Dundrum) and is on lands designated as ‘open countryside’,” Tipperary County Council planners said.
The council also characterised the facility as one that would provide medical care, but Compass held that this was not the case.
Agents for Compass said that they feel that the council “erred in characterising the proposed use as a form of institutional healthcare use”.
"In reality, the development involves the continued use of an existing domestic dwelling, to provide accommodation for up to four children in care, supported by qualified social care staff”.
Now, the planning appeals board have agreed with Compass, and voted to overturn the local authority’s refusal, granting permission for the facility.
In their report, the inspector for An Coimisiún Pleanála said that while there may be an element of healthcare provided at the facility, this would not be its main focus.
“While there may be an element of health support available to children under the proposed use, the main support would be care support for the residents.
"I do not consider the proposed use to be a healthcare facility,” the inspector noted.
An Coimisiún Pleanála’s inspector also said that while the property is outside the village of Dundrum, in an unserviced area, concerns can be mitigated by the imposition of planning conditions.
“It is considered that subject to compliance with the conditions set out, the development would be acceptable and would not seriously injure the residential or visual amenities of the area,” the inspector said.
Two conditions were imposed, with one stating that works can only be carried out according to the plans that were submitted to the planners, and that details of finishes to be used be agreed with the council before any work gets underway.