Plans for a small children's care home in Chester have been approved, despite vehement concerns raised by locals.

SAFESPACE4U LTD has sought permission to convert the dwelling on Fir Tree Avenue, Chester, into a care home for vulnerable aged between seven and 17 years of age.

Documents within the application presented various spelling and formatting issues and the applicant has included 'irrelevant' appeals from similar applications, with one dated to 2011.

A comment objecting the proposal raised issues such as the company's history, documents submitted in support of the application and the property's proximity to a local school.

The local resident said: "This application must be further investigated.

"The company applying also have a documented history of problems with the residents of their facilities, and history running them regardless of permission.

"The documents attached to this application should be challenged as extremely poor quality (Planning Statement) and/or irrelevant due to being from a random other part of the country.

"The documentation also doesn't provide any details about protections and security arrangements both for the residents and the local populace, something that should be a given based on the range of potential residents' issues proposed by their job advertisement for this facility.

"Further, the company (according to Companies House) was only formally incorporated in July 2024.

"Can the company demonstrate sustainable expertise in running these facilities in this kind of isolated location?"

In response to the issues raised, the planning officer asserted details regarding security and protection had been noted, but 'the expertise of the company' was 'not a material consideration'.

The officer added: "The specialist certification and registration of the staff, as well as any potential civil matters with neighbours, would be regulated by relevant bodies outside of the planning system.

"It is noted that the applicant has provided previously approved decisions / appeals to support their application.

"The representations consider these to be irrelevant.

"It is considered that each application needs to be considered on its own merits."

In a story published late last year, the Liverpool Echo highlighted a children's home, owned by the same company, had operated for months without permission.

The retrospective application came under fire following a petition signed by 53 people and concerns raised by local councillor, Andrew Hodson.

Petitioners argued the home in Gayton had been 'operating as a childcare home for two to three months', without the right paperwork.

The approved application does not propose any alterations to the Chester property, which will 'provide support for young people who have a range of complex individual needs, providing emergency long term placements'.

The applicant confirmed the proposed use of the house would be for vulnerable aged between 7 and 17 years of age, 'who present social, emotional and behavioural difficulties'.

You can access the full planning application here.