Couple get permission to house Ukrainian

PLANS to change the use of a room in Henley to house a Ukrainian family have been approved.

Anthony Duckett, of Marlow Road, has been granted permission to temporarily change the use of his studio, a separate outbuilding at his property, to allow for a mother and daughter to continue living there under the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

The Homes for Ukraine scheme is sponsored by the Government to support Ukrainians fleeing the war with Russia. It matches hosts with refugees and the host is subsidised for housing them.

Neighbours had sent objections to South Oxfordshire District Council, the planning authority, saying they were concerned about noise disturbance, loss of privacy and that the venue could be made into an Airbnb in the future.

But Adrian Duffield, the head of planning, said the change of use would only be temporary.

He said: “At the expiration of a period of one year from the date of this permission, the use of the building as specified in the application shall cease, unless an alternative period has first been agreed by the council in writing.”

Mr Duffield added that thereafter the building should only be used for purposes ancillary to the main building.

Henley Town Council had also recommended that the plans were approved, subject to the change of use being temporary.

Mr Duckett and his wife Rosemary wrote to the Standard in November to say that they had been delighted to first help and house a mother and daughter who had fled Ukraine.

They explained that they then housed a single Ukrainian woman who had been staying for more than a year before the council asked for a change of use application.

The couple said: “We hope that this permission will be granted so allowing her to stay as she would not be able to find affordable accommodation in Henley, where she works and contributes to our country.

“She is going through enough worry with all that is happening in Ukraine where she has close family without the turmoil to her life at the moment.”