PLANS to change a Ceredigion garage to accommodation for care workers, made by an applicant who needs round-the-clock care, have been approved by the county council.
In an application to Ceredigion County Council, the applicant sought permission for the change of use of the building to provide accommodation for two care workers.
An officer report, recommending approval, said: “The need for the accommodation of care workers on-site is stated to be required due to the complex and multi-faceted needs of [the applicant]. It is stated that [the applicant’s] parents are assisted by nine full-time equivalent staff working exclusively with [the applicant], two of which are required continuously through 12-hour shift-work and a need for a third carer to assist in more complex tasks.
“A letter has been provided from the parents of [the applicant] to provide greater detail of his caring needs, and a letter received from Unite Care Group to confirm that two carers are required with him at all times. The specific content of these letters is confidential and therefore shall not be shared publicly within the report – however they have been considered in full by the case officer in reaching a decision.”
The report says the need for carer accommodation “represents exceptional circumstances, which ought to be taken into account as part of assessing the application, with the weight given being a matter of planning judgement for the LPA”.
It added: “It is concluded that the circumstances justify the provision of on-site accommodation for use by carers working with and support the main dwellinghouse. Amendments have been agreed during the course of the application to ensure that the building provides shared use of facilities (i.e. kitchen, living area, bathrooms) as opposed to being two separate units of accommodation, as originally applied for.
“The fact that the proposal makes use of an existing building which lies within the residential curtilage of the main dwellinghouse also weighs in favour of the proposal.”
The application was conditionally approved.
