Waltham Forest's Planning Committee has approved the conversion of a single-family dwelling into a children's care home in Leyton, despite concerns raised by local residents. The proposed change of use aims to satisfy a local need for specialist types of living accommodation, addressing a shortfall of such properties within the borough, as highlighted in the Sufficiency Strategy for Children Looked After & Care Leavers 2017-2020.
The committee granted planning permission on Tuesday 14 October 2025 for the change of use at 86 Sedgwick Road, allowing the property to operate as a Class C2 children's care home, accommodating up to four children with permanent staff working shifts. The applicant for the care home is Mr. Hussain Bashar. No structural changes to the property are planned.
The decision followed a public consultation that yielded 12 objections. Concerns raised included:
- Previous unregularised use as a care home
- Noise and disturbance
- Anti-social behaviour
- Lack of proper assessment in relation to anti-social behaviour risks for children
- Overdevelopment and inadequate living conditions
The committee report addressed these concerns, noting that the previous use had ceased and the current application is from a different applicant/operator. It also stated that measures to control noise and disturbance are proposed, and the safety and wellbeing of children is governed by safeguarding legislation.
Specifically, the committee considered the facilities management plan v2 dated June 2025 to ensure the day-to-day management of the building would minimise the impact on neighboring properties. Condition 4 of the planning permission mandates adherence to this plan, stating: The use hereby permitted and the everyday management of the building, as well as other measures for safety and security of the building, shall be carried out in accordance with the facilities management plan v2 dated June 2025 and shall thereafter be retained as such for the lifetime of the development.
This condition directly addresses residents' concerns about noise, disturbance, and anti-social behavior.
The report concluded that the proposed change of use would be an acceptable form of development that satisfies a local need for specialist types of living accommodation, and that the proposed day-to-day management of the building would minimise the impact of the intensified use on the amenity of neighbouring properties.
The Planning Committee, which included Councillor Jenny Gray, Councillor Sebastian Salek, Councillor John Moss, Councillor Uzma Rasool, and Councillor Keith Rayner, ultimately approved the application subject to conditions and informatives.
