Council forced to pay legal costs after ‘unnecessarily’ blocking new children’s home plans
A council will have to pay costs to a care provider after government inspectors reversed its decision to block a new children’s home from being built in West Bromwich.
The government’s planning inspectors have ruled that Sandwell Council must pay £3,750 to Bright Life Living after wrongly rejecting a bid to turn flats in West Bromwich, last year.
The council turned down the move to convert the building into a residential care home for up to three children saying it would lead to more noise and disturbance for neighbours.
However, the government inspector rubbished the claims saying there was no evidence that the children’s home would lead to a rise in anti-social behaviour. The inspector also said there was enough space at the location to cope with the potential extra cars.
The inspector also said Sandwell Council had acted “unreasonably” and unnecessarily delayed a decision by relying on “vague, generalised assertions” and had not provided enough evidence to back up its claims.
