C3 to C4 HMO conversion mental health patients!

[BGARK]

Need some advice from any planning experts please.

A few doors away from my house someone (not local) has purchased an old run down house for C3 to C4 HMO conversion, specifically to develop for schizophrenia, paranoia and other mental health patients to be housed and treated.

Some of my neighbors with small children etc are going crazy with worry. This is a lovely normal road and I cannot believe the council are seriously considering this in a residential area!

Any suggestions appreciated. Thanks

[quinny100]

BGARK said:

I cannot believe the council are seriously considering this in a residential area!

I can't really think of any reasonable objections you could submit to such a scheme.

The Council have a legal duty to consider any application submitted to them, even if it's submitted by someone who is "not local", and determine it in accordance planning law.

It's an application for residential accommodation in a residential area. I can't see you getting far with an objection on that basis.

The Care in the Community Act closed most large residential institutions in the last 30 years in favour of precisely the type of accommodation being proposed here. If there's a shortage of this type of accommodation in your Council area, and there usually is, then this is a big tick in the box for such a development.

An objection on the basis of people with mental health problems should not live in residential areas with "normal people" will do nothing other than make you look like an unreasonable NIMBY and give the Planning Officer a bit of a laugh.

[Simpo Two]

I can see the issue but it's a pity 'small children' get wheeled out again, as if the possession of same make a person more important.

[BGARK]

Simpo Two said:

I can see the issue but it's a pity 'small children' get wheeled out again, as if the possession of same make a person more important.

I don't want nutters living near me, is that PC enough for you?

[Simpo Two]

BGARK said:

Simpo Two said:

I can see the issue but it's a pity 'small children' get wheeled out again, as if the possession of same make a person more important.

I don't want nutters living near me

Well, put that in your objection. If the Care in the Community Act says 'Nutters shall not live anyhere near normal people' you'll win.

[plasticpig]

BGARK said:

I don't want nutters living near me, is that PC enough for you?

2 to 3% of the population will suffer from severe mental illness like bipolar disorder or schizophrenia I can pretty much guarantee "nutters" are living near you already.

[BGARK]

plasticpig said:

BGARK said:

I don't want nutters living near me, is that PC enough for you?

2 to 3% of the population will suffer from severe mental illness like bipolar disorder or schizophrenia I can pretty much guarantee "nutters" are living near you already.

Trust me I know more than most about mental health, I have a close family member who topped themselves because of it. I also know the impact it causes to the local area, it does nobody any favours!

[quinny100]

How many residents are proposed? Will it be staffed by carers?

If it's 6 or less residents with an element of care I don't think it needs consent under the current Use Classes Order as it would fall under Class C3(b).

If it's more than 6 residents it's can't be a class C4 HMO because larger HMO's are sui-generis.

[madmover]

Maybe you're suffering from paranoia - do they cater for this? I'd recommend a conversation with your new neighbours to see if they can help

[Vaud]

plasticpig said:

2 to 3% of the population will suffer from severe mental illness like bipolar disorder or schizophrenia I can pretty much guarantee "nutters" are living near you already.

Mental health seems to be the last taboo?

Some stats:
http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/help-information/me...

I'd rather live near people who have been diagnosed and who are receiving treatment under observation than near undiagnosed and untreated people...

[BGARK]

quinny100 said:

How many residents are proposed? Will it be staffed by carers?

If it's 6 or less residents with an element of care I don't think it needs consent under the current Use Classes Order as it would fall under Class C3(b).

If it's more than 6 residents it's can't be a class C4 HMO because larger HMO's are sui-generis.

Its proposed for 8 bedrooms including 24 hour access and care.

[covmutley]

Not having seen it, lack of parking and disturbance caused by staff coming-and-going are probably your best bet.

Contact your local politicians.

[plasticpig]

Vaud said:

Mental health seems to be the last taboo?

Some stats:
http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/help-information/me...

I'd rather live near people who have been diagnosed and who are receiving treatment under observation than near undiagnosed and untreated people...

Me too. The problem with nimbyism is that people have to be housed somewhere. The village where my parents live had some social housing built last year. There were some legitimate planning objections to do with access and drainage but there was an underlying subtext of we don't want that sort of class of person living here. As it turned out the class of person who actually lives there is a tradesman judging by the number of vans parked up and not some chavy unemployed benefits sponger with 6 gobby out of control kids.