PLANNING advice has been sought to open registered children’s homes within a newly built housing development in Newquay.

The applicant plans to provide three registered children’s homes at the Trevemper development, which will offer an alternative to foster care for those who cannot live with their families. Round-the-clock care would be provided by professional shift-working staff.

A two-bedroom property is proposed to accommodate one young person, supported by a minimum of one member of staff who will be on site 24/7. A three-bedroom home with additional living space would accommodate up to a maximum of three young people. Staffing will be a minimum of one staff member per young person and would be present 24/7.

Another three-bedroom property would accommodate two young people, with a minimum of one staff member per young person on site 24/7.

The pre application stated: “From the information provided staff levels will vary in response to the individual needs of the children living at the properties, with child to carers ratios being either one to one or two to one.

“Carers will be on site 24/7 but are not resident. It is envisaged that staff will work a long day shift sleeping on site. In addition to carers there will be one full-time registered manager and one full-time deputy/team leader who will work across all three properties. There may be occasional visitors, including professionals supporting the young people for example social workers, education, or health professionals. These visits will be planned and managed appropriately.

“As part Ofsted registration process a full environmental risk assessment will be carried out for each property. This will include security measures, safeguarding considerations, and any mitigations required. No physical alterations to the buildings are proposed.”

Cornwall Council has advised the applicant would need to require planning permission for a change of use due to the number of potential movements to and from the properties by various groups of people.

Principal development officer Fionna Catlin said: ”The proposal to use the three existing dwellings as registered children's homes is considered to result in a change of use and this change of use is considered to be 'material' with the number of potential movements to and from the properties by various groups of people, together with necessary interventions to ensure adequate security and safety, amounting to a significant change in the nature of the activities when compared to that of the properties' lawful use. Planning permission is therefore required.”

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“The principle of a change of use finds support under the development plan, and it is understood that there is an acute need for registered children's homes within Cornwall. The provision of such accommodation in a sustainable location, while reducing the supply of open market housing, weighs heavily in favour of the application. For a future application to be supported at an officer level supporting information should demonstrate that the local highways network is not significantly adversely impacted, safe and suitable access provided and that any impacts to neighbouring residential amenity is not unreasonable.”