Dinnington St John’s Town Council have written a letter to the Planning Department at RMBC to register their objection to the Change of Use of a Dwellinghouse to a Children’s Residential Care Home, please see attached letter below;

Dear Sir/Madam,

Dinnington St John’s Town Council wishes to formally object to planning application RB2025/0610, which proposes the change of use of a dwellinghouse (Use Class C3) to a residential care home for children and teenagers with complex needs. While the Council understands and supports the necessity of providing appropriate care for vulnerable young people, we have serious concerns about the suitability of this proposal in its current form and in this specific location.

The proposed property is located within a quiet, residential area, primarily composed of family homes. The change of use to a care facility for teenagers with significant emotional, behavioural, or medical needs represents a substantial departure from the existing residential character of the neighbourhood. This type of care home will require not only round-the-clock support staff but also regular visits from a variety of external professionals such as medical practitioners, social workers, therapists, and education or safeguarding officers. The cumulative effect of this increased footfall and traffic presents real and legitimate concerns for the amenity of nearby residents.

Parking provision and traffic management have not been adequately addressed in the application. The expected number of support staff and visiting professionals far exceeds what the property or surrounding streets can reasonably accommodate. This raises potential issues around highway safety and the obstruction of what is already a limited residential parking environment.

Furthermore, the Council is concerned about the lack of detailed information provided in the application documents. Key operational aspects such as staffing numbers, shift patterns, visiting schedules, and safeguarding measures have not been explained. This lack of transparency makes it difficult for both the Council and local residents to properly assess the potential impact of the proposal. In light of this, we formally request an extension to the consultation period and ask that fuller, more detailed information be made available to the public to facilitate a more informed response.

The Council also strongly believes that this application should not be decided under officer delegation. Given the sensitivity and potential implications of the proposal, it is essential that the matter be considered by the Planning Board. This would ensure proper democratic oversight and provide an opportunity for local residents to make representations directly to elected members before any decision is made.

Lastly, we wish to highlight that the proposal appears to conflict with the aims and objectives of the Dinnington St John’s Neighbourhood Plan, which promotes sustainable development that respects and enhances the character of our community. A development of this intensity and complexity is, in our view, incompatible with the surrounding area and does not support the cohesive, family-oriented environment the Plan seeks to uphold.

For all the reasons stated above, Dinnington St John’s Town Council respectfully urges Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council to refuse this application.