Objectors fail to stop ex-care home being used for youths

Horton Housing Association (HHA) has applied to Kirklees Council for a certificate of lawfulness to convert the former Westholme Residential Home in Wyke into a home for young adults aged 16-18 leaving care.

The Bradford-based company says the site, on the A58 Whitehall Road, was formerly a children’s home.

Local residents and councillors say that is not true.

However the council could find itself facing a legal challenge if it attempts to turn down the scheme as the classification for elderly care homes and children’s homes is the same.

Sue Atkinson, services director at HHA, said the company was proposing to develop supported accommodation in Wyke for young people aged 16 to 18 who have been homeless or are at risk of homelessness and including young people leaving care.

She said all young adults residing at the address are in full-time education and/or training and that the service would be staffed 24 hours a day.

But locals have sharply criticised the plan and have rejected HHA’s declaration that the site was previously a children’s home.

They say it is an inappropriate site as young adults would struggle to travel to colleges in Kirklees.

In addition they say there are few facilities for people of that age in the immediate vicinity.

And despite having had “very little time” to comment on the application, which was submitted on March 4, concerned locals have made more than 80 representations to the council.

One said, “The majority feel that this has been an underhand method by Horton Housing to get this approved without any opposition during the period of lockdown when people cannot come together as a group.”

Furthermore they are concerned that homes such as that being proposed are not subject to inspections by either the Care Quality Commission or the education watchdog Ofsted.

Ward councillor Kath Pinnock (Lib Dem, Cleckheaton) has been lobbied by residents who object to the plan.

She said the residential care home for the elderly closed around 20 years ago, after which the building briefly became a private house.

She added: “It has never, ever been a children’s home. That is not true.

“Residents that have lived up there for 60 years said it has never been used for children.

“It’s a really inappropriate place for care leavers to be housed. It’s putting those young people in the most difficult circumstances where getting access to colleges and services is going to be very difficult.

“Quite simply, it’s just the wrong place.”

Her party and ward colleague Coun Andrew Pinnock advised that Kirklees Council was faced with determining a legal matter under the aegis of planning.

He said: “As it’s in the same use class the council would have no legs to stand on in refusing it. The applicant could take it to appeal and win as the council would be seen to have acted unreasonably.

“It’s really difficult.

“It comes down to a very simple question: it it legal or not? If it’s in the same use class as before then it is legal. The only answer can be yes or no.”

The LDRS understands that Horton Homes will be asked to add a statement to its application detailing what it wishes to do with the home.

However it would be a goodwill gesture as the company is under no obligation and cannot be compelled to do so.

Tony Earnshaw , Local Democracy Reporting Service