# 22 Woodside View, Thundersley

- **Decision:** allowed, 24 August 2026
- **Decided by:** Planning Inspector: Terrence Kemmann-Lane
- **Authority:** Castle Point (East of England)
- **Appeal reference:** 6008542
- **Application reference:** 26/0028/FUL
- **Procedure:** written-representations
- **Development:** Change of use of 3-bed house (C3) to children's care home (C2) for up to 2 children
- **Site context:** inside-settlement
- **Green Belt:** no
- **Framework applied:** No Framework version cited
- **Determinative policies:** Castle Point LP H2
- **Development plan policies:** Castle Point Local Plan H2
- **Main issues:** loss of family dwelling vs need for children's placements
- **Tags:** tier-2, childrens-home, no-framework-cited, specialist-housing-need

## Summary
Conversion of a three-bed house to a two-child care home was allowed. Following *North Devon DC v FSS* [2003], the use is "functionally indistinguishable from a use Class C3 dwelling", so family housing was not lost, and the County confirmed a sufficiency need (DL ¶¶5, 8–9). The letter, dated a week after publication, never mentions the Framework.

## What made the difference
The small scale (two children), the use's similarity to a family household, and the County's letter supporting in-district need.

## Policy findings
- **Castle Point LP H2: accord.** small children's home functionally indistinguishable from C3 (North Devon DC v FSS [2003] EWHC 157 (Admin)); no loss of residential use (DL 5, 9)
- **HO9: benefit.** ECC letter says scheme "aligns with our current sufficiency needs"; zero Castle Point children placed in-district (DL 7-8) — Framework not cited

## Key facts
- Up to 2 children, 1:1 to 3:1 staffing, max 5 people on site
- ECC needs assessment 15 placements needed to 2029; 33 places approved 2022-24

## Sources
- https://appeal-planning-decision.service.gov.uk/published-document/0b04f8e1-a514-49ce-a929-63955fc7c122
- https://appeal-planning-decision.service.gov.uk/comment-planning-appeal/appeals/6008542

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Source: https://planningdistilled.org/research/england/nppf-navigator/decisions/PINS-6008542.html

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