Planners have given the go-ahead for a family home in Castle Bromwich to be converted into a children's home.

The scheme for the home in Wasperton Close was given the green light despite concerns raised over highway safety.

Applicant Oceanway Childcare Ltd lodged the application with Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council (SMBC) in May, with the home planned to house three children aged seven to 17-years-old.

The plans also included a proposal to convert a garage into a staff office.

But in a public consultation 19 objections were made including Castle Bromwich ward councillors Alan Feeney and Jamie Campbell.

And Castle Bromwich Parish Council objected raising concerns about increased noise, disturbance, pressure on neighbours and inadequate parking provision.

The application went before the latest meeting of the authority's planning committee where the statement of neighbour Trevor Tomkins was read out which said: "This is a very small close of family homes.

"The proposal will have a negative impact on the established local character and appearance.

"The restricted circular end of the close, close proximity of neighbouring drives and presence of a public footpath right next to the narrow driveway is important.

"The proposal raises highway safety issues for residents' cars, emergency service and refuse collection vehicles, as well as children and adults using the public footpath.

"Residents have already reported driveways and the public footpath being blocked."

Junaid Butt, who spoke in favour of the application, said: "I have heard concerns about anti-social behaviour – there is no study that suggests that children's homes contribute to anti-social behaviour in an area.

"There will be three staff in the morning, only two that will stay at night.

"Shift patterns – on certain days there will be no changeovers whatsoever, the staff will remain there for the full day."

In the public debate the committee chairman Cllr Bob Grinsell said: "I visited this site and was somewhat surprised at what I believe is a bit of contrived parking arrangements.

"We heard there were issues and I can foresee them.

"We have got this public walkway. Can we condition some kind of barrier?

"Because if you have got this parking area, someone opens a door and can't see the person walking along the public way."

Planning officer Jon Hallam said: "I see what you are trying to achieve.

"Given it is an existing four bedroom house there is going to be a lot of activity and parking anyway. I really think we will struggle to argue (to a planning inspector) a change of use justifies any extra protection along that boundary."

Cllr Michael James said: "We would be lucky to achieve five cars (on the driveway) and with segregation I am concerned some of these would end up on the road."

The officer then highlighted highways had raised no objections and the scheme had been found to be acceptable in terms of highway safety.

The chairman said: "My concern is pedestrian safety, rather than highway safety – I tend to disregard what highways say on that."

When he moved to the vote the scheme was approved subject to conditions and the additional condition for a barrier, with five councillors voting for and four against.

The meeting was held at the Civic Suite on September 9.