Rooms-to-rent planning appeal dismissed

A bid to continue using a former care home as a rooms-to-rent letting house has been rejected by the Planning Inspectorate.

New operators of the former Livesey Lodge residential rest home in Livesey Drive, Sapcote, appealed against an enforcement notice and a stop notice served by Blaby District Council in March.

The Parish Council and residents had complained to the Council that the building was being used as a letting house.

After the closure of the rest home and following the sale of the property in 2022, it had reopened this year offering more than 20 double en-suite rooms for short and long-term lets.

Reports were received from local residents concerned about the potential for noise, disturbance, traffic and parking issues in what is a quiet cul-de-sac, largely made up of bungalows with elderly residents.

On investigation the Council found the new use to be a breach of planning control and undesirable in the location. As a result, an enforcement notice and stop notice requiring the use to cease were served upon the operators.

An enforcement notice may be served where the local planning authority is satisfied that it appears there has been a breach of planning control and it is expedient to issue a notice. A stop notice may also be served where the local planning authority considers that any or all of the activities which form the alleged breach of planning control should cease immediately and ahead of the deadline for compliance within the enforcement notice.

The operators appealed to the Planning Inspectorate in a bid to overturn the enforcement notice, however, an Inspector dismissed the appeal and upheld the Notice. 

The Inspector agreed the increase in noise and activity from the new use would result in “unacceptable disturbance” and said the increase in on-street parking and traffic would be detrimental to highway safety.

The Council is keen to see this building put to a use appropriate to its location, however, no formal proposal by way of a planning application has been received at this time.