The house was chosen for its location and proximity to local amenities, including a railway station
A house in a residential area is to be converted into a children’s home to be run by the county’s largest authority.
An application has been submitted to turn a property in Sittingbourne into accommodation for two young people in care.
It is understood to be part of Kent County Council’s strategy to run its own children’s homes, rather than potentially more expensive commissioned alternatives.
KCC papers explain there is a shortage of registered accommodation in Kent, requiring out-of-area placements in emergencies.
The dwelling in Homewood Avenue was chosen for its location and proximity to local amenities, including a railway station, and spaces for five car parking spaces.
Papers to go before the KCC planning applications committee state: “By developing in-house children’s homes, KCC would both expand capacity to meet rising demand and would also ensure that all children would be placed in Ofsted -registered settings.
“Nationally, other local authorities are already operating, or in advanced stages of delivering, in-house residential children’s care homes and this planning application is seen as an important part of this strategy for Kent to meet this identified need.
“Achieving best value from in-house residential children’s care homes is not just about financial viability and cost-effectiveness.
“It is also about exercising Kent’s corporate parenting responsibility to transition a looked after child to independence within adulthood, experiencing the safest journey whilst developing social skills and resilience in emotional wellbeing and mental health.”
The four-bed property would require some internal alteration to provide two bedrooms, living and office areas.
The papers argue there will be no change to the external features of the property and its use as a children’s home would be little different to that of a family dwelling.
The papers state: “The total number of children and staff residing there would not be significantly greater than the number of people who might occupy the home under a family scenario.
“The number of occupants and the intensity of the use remains broadly the same, with no increase in overnight sleeping accommodation and only 2 children living at the property at any one time.”
Up to five members of staff might be there at any one time, they add.
