PLANS to use two newly-built Hoyland properties as supported living accommodation for young people have been approved by Barnsley Council.

Both of the properties on Cumberland Road have three bedrooms and the plans are to house up to six young people - aged between 16 and 25 - when at full capacity.

The young people are those who are looked after by the local authority, and care leavers, who are waiting to be housed by the council.

A report states: “The young people will be expected to maintain the property in respect to cleanliness, will undertake their own food shopping, cooking.

“The staff are present to ensure they can offer any support/guidance when needed.

“The applicant’s aim is to support the young people to become more independent, make good choices to then be able to hold their own tenancy in the future.

“This support is purely on a guidance basis.”

Those who are living at the site will be assessed before being placed into the accommodation - and the applicant will be living in one of the two properties.

A maximum of two staff members will also be on site.

One letter of objection was received to the application following public consultation.

The report added: “The objector does raise some concern with the potential residents of the scheme, however, some of the objections relate to overlooking caused by a raised decking area and additional window.

“The objector states these are not in accordance with the approved plans for the dwellings and will be investigated separately.

“The occupants of the property would be aged between 16 to 25 and be independent.

“They do not need domiciliary care and can move around freely in the home and in the community.

“The young people are those who are looked after by the local authority, and care leavers, who are waiting to be housed by the council.

“As such, they are not ‘children’ and are capable of running a household independently.

“Given the comments above, the residents of Cumberland Road would be capable of forming a single household while receiving care - as such, the use would again be permitted development.”

Plans were originally submitted in March before the council’s planning board approved them last week.