AN Amblecote councillor has expressed her delight after a bid to build a children’s care home next to Stourbridge Football Club was rejected by planners.

Dudley Council granted Smethwick-based Bains Builders permission to demolish the old Stourbridge war memorial club in Amblecote High Street in June to make way for four semi-detached homes after a previous plan for a care home was withdrawn in 2012.

But at Monday’s development control committee applicant Surinder Bains was revisiting his initial idea and seeking permission to transform the buildings into two detached eight-bedroom residential care homes for 16 children aged six to 16 .

The application, however, was met with disbelief as councillors on the committee learned the development was close to completion, sparking suggestions the buildings were being constructed with care home use in mind from the outset.

Councillor Pat Martin said: "This application has not been put down as retrospective even though the building is virtually complete, despite the fact that it was reported to planners that builders were on site as long ago as March. Instead of a stop notice being put on, the builders were told that if they built they would do so at their own risk.

"So what has happened since they were asked to withdraw their first application? Has the site changed? Has the traffic changed? Have the roads changed? Have the lights changed?

"The answer is no. The only thing that has changed are the planners who have now decided that what was dangerous a few months ago is now safe.

"All in all this is a most undesirable site for children when we should want them in a place of both calm and safety."

Committee chairman, Councillor Qadar Zada, said: "I'm not a supporter of retrospective applications. People feel it is acceptable to come after the event. There may well have been the intention for this to be a care home from the start."

He added: "The important thing about this application is that we need to make sure that children who need additional support are looked after in an environment that is suitable and safe.

"I don't think that can be the case with that particular site."

Councillor David Caunt agreed: "The major problem is the environment around there. It is right on the traffic lights, next door to the main entrance to the Stourbridge football ground and overlooked by floodlights. It is not the best environment for children, especially those in care. We have a responsibility to try to ensure these types of children, who through no fault of their own have been put into care, are looked after in a responsible way."

The committee refused the application on the basis of amenities and highways issues.

But Mr Bains' architect Tommy Wong told the News councillors had "got it all wrong" and he said no planning conditions had been breached, adding: "What has been built is in accordance with the plan."

He said that earlier this year there was further consultation with planning officers and highways to discuss why the previous application for care homes was deemed inappropriate.

Mr Wong said following discussions, the new application had been submitted but insisted Mr Bains' had not built the homes with the intention of turning them into a care home.

Addressing traffic concerns, he said: "We have carried out extensive surveys. Our proposal will not have any impact on highways safety and flow of traffic - care workers will take children to school.”

Mr Bains added: "The councillors had already made their minds up. They've got it all wrong, I wasn't allowed to answer them back. A planning officer and an enforcement officer have been down to the site and saw it is built to spec for four houses."

A council spokesman said unless the building was operating in a way that it does not have planning permission for, no formal action could be taken, adding: “Councillors on the development control committee decided to refuse the application. Therefore the development does not have permission to operate as a care home but retains its permission for two residential buildings.”