PLANS to turn four neighbouring houses in Dudley into a children’s home have been thrown out.

The controversial scheme, for the buildings on New Rowley Road, had attracted widespread criticism from residents and local politicians.

Objectors wrote 38 letters of objection and also submitted a petition of 62 names to Dudley Council arguing the home could cause an increase in crime.

Cllr Shaukat Ali welcomed the refusal, he said: “Common sense has prevailed, I very much hope the owner will now put them to the use they were given planning permission for which is residential.”

The application requested a change of use for the newly built five-bedroom homes to a children’s home for a total of 12 residents with four carers during the day and three at night.

Dudley MP Marco Longhi was also among the objectors, he told planners: “In their report, the police state that this development would be in an IMPACT area, which is a high harm and high demand area for the police. 

“This proposal will place additional demand on officers.”

In their report to planners, Dudley Council officers found problems with having four homes next to each other.

They said: “Whilst the proposed change of use does not include any significant external alterations, the proposal would result in a row of four care homes. 

“Given the number of dwellings and the length of the row (35m), the proposal would read as a commercial and institutionalised development that is out of character with the surrounding street scene which is residential and characterised by family dwellings.”

In refusing the application planners agreed using the buildings as a children’s home would be out of character with the street scene and place unreasonable demands on local police and social services.

They also said the change of use was ‘not supported in principle as there is insufficient evidence to demonstrate that the proposed use in this location would meet a direct need for this type of supported accommodation within the borough’.