A planning application to convert an "elegant" Leek house into a residential care home for young people has been approved by the district council.

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council met on Thursday last week to decide on an application to turn Nab Hill House, on Nab Hill Avenue in Leek, into a care home for up to six young residents aged between 7 and 17.

The application was submitted by Compass Childrens Homes, which has more than 20 children's homes around England and cares for young people who require a range of support and therapies. It relates to a three storey house, which includes eight bedrooms.

A planning statement prepared on behalf of the applicant explains that the home "will provide for young people requiring care and therapies to enable them to develop family living, independence and other social skills."

It adds: "The daily routine for the young persons residing at Nab Hill House will be similar to that of any child living in a family home – on weekdays they will attend full time education, complete homework, help clean or cook, and attend after school clubs.

"At weekends they will engage in activities both at home and away from home (e.g. sports, visiting the cinema, shopping), with the objective of creating a stable and shared family living environment."

The house was listed on Rightmove in September 2020 for offers in the region of £750,000 and was described by estate agents Daniel and Hulme as an "elegant period home situated on the fringes of town."

The application attracted considerable attention from local residents, with around 50 comments either in support or objection to the plans being submitted to the district council.

Most of these comments have been in objection to the plans, raising concerns relating to traffic, noise and litter, among other issues.

However, a supplementary statement submitted on behalf of the applicant says these comments are "misleading and/or inaccurate", and that some of the concerns raised are not material planning considerations.

Ahead of the meeting, the plans have been recommended for approval by the council's planning officers, and members of the district council's Planning Committee voted to approve the plans at their latest meeting.