Residents Express Disquiet Over Children’s Home Approvals

Residents in a town assert they have received “more than our fair share” of children’s homes, following the approval of seven properties for such use within a one-square-mile radius this year. Over 130 individuals gathered for a meeting on Wednesday in Braunstone Town, Leicestershire, to convey their concerns to Blaby District Council, the authority that sanctioned these applications. The distinct planning permissions permit four residential properties to be utilized as facilities for a maximum of three children each, and three other properties for up to two children each. Nick Brown, leader of Braunstone Town Council, articulated the necessity of striking a balance between “environmental protections which people want for their own area and the needs to look after vulnerable children”. Mr. Brown, who also serves as a Blaby District councillor, indicated that the town council has been monitoring this situation and voicing concerns for more than five years. He remarked, “We feel that we’ve had more than our fair share locally. And I’ve raised this issue specifically with the planning department.” He further explained, “It’s so difficult because the law and the regulations are very restrictive about what the planning department can do.” “It can’t throw them out on grounds of loss of house prices or the concerns about potential antisocial behaviour. Those are not planning grounds,” he clarified. Mr. Brown, aged 61, believes that the paramount concern is ensuring that the operators of these homes undergo appropriate monitoring and inspection. He additionally stated, “People need to remember that the children which have been taken into care are in care not because of anything the children have done, it’s because their parents are unable to care for them themselves.” He identified a primary concern as residents being aware of the appropriate channels for lodging complaints regarding any emerging problems, and that these issues are addressed “swiftly and effectively”. Diane Heggie, 67, a resident of Braunstone Town, was among the concerned individuals present at the gathering. She commented, “It’s been one of those situations where properties are being bought and converted and it’s gone under the radar.” “Nobody in the community is against children’s home,” she affirmed. She continued, “They recognise vulnerable children have got to go somewhere.” “But in a residential area where you’re taking houses from the housing market, which is already short of houses for people to live in and converting them, you don’t go back once that has been done,” she elaborated. She added, “And it then sets the precedent and it’s the speed in which this has all been happening within a very small area.” Ms. Heggie stated that once the district council grants permission for these plans, “there’s nowhere to go”. She further expressed, “I think as residents, we feel very let down by our council.” “It’s all within a 10-minute walk to all of them. I’m just so surprised and scared. “Where does it stop? How many are there going to actually let through?” she questioned. Rachel Wilcox, 57, mentioned discovering the planning applications via a friend, which prompted her to establish a WhatsApp group. She indicated that she engaged with local residents and distributed leaflets concerning the issues. She concluded, “Nobody was aware of what was happening.” Prospective operators of children’s homes are required to register with Ofsted prior to commencing operations and must prove their capability to fulfill the pertinent legal obligations. The district council’s planning website shows that 11 applications for a change of use from residential to children’s homes have been approved in Braunstone Town since October 2020. Upon presenting a list of these 11 addresses to Ofsted, the agency verified that only one was registered; however, a spokesperson clarified that they could not comment on facilities currently undergoing the registration process. Leicestershire County Council reports an average weekly cost of £6,000 for a residential placement within the county, with this amount potentially exceeding £10,000 per week for children with complex needs, totaling over half a million pounds annually. The council stated that prospective placements are required to provide their registration details along with their latest Ofsted report and grading. Deborah Taylor, the cabinet member for children and families at the authority, indicated “a rising need” for housing options for children in care. She further commented, “We acknowledge there is a lack of capacity in the market and that has led to increased costs charged by social care companies and put more pressure on council budgets.” Braustone Town contains 7,000 domestic homes, with 19 properties holding permission for use as residential institutions. Ben Taylor, the district council’s portfolio holder for planning, stated: “We can reassure residents that all applications are considered on their own merits and assessed against national and local policies.” He continued, “The planning process is a very emotive subject, and while we can understand the frustration from some, we can only refuse applications on planning grounds and have to balance community concerns with the need for homes.” For updates, follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, X, or Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or through WhatsApp at 0808 100 2210. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding their approach to external linking is available.