'An ever-present need' - Plans to convert ex family home into new children’s care home

Children’s Trust Care Ltd has lodged an application to change 23 Station Road into a new children’s home. The five-bedroom home, if approved, with house children between the ages of 10 to 18 for long-term placements of up to three or more years.

The application’s planning statement reads: “The North Tyneside Council’s Children in Care Sufficiency Strategy for 2023-2025 (2023) sets out that the council’s strategy is to place children with foster carers where possible, then focus on placing children within the Council’s facilities, using external residential care homes where necessary.

“Yet there is an ever-present need for these homes, particularly for teenagers. This home will help to meet this need, enabling teenagers and young people who may otherwise have to leave the region to be placed in a stable home within the area.”

Seven objections have been logged by North Tyneside Council in relation to the application. Objections have ranged from potential noise concerns, claims of limited street parking, and a perceived “change in character” for the local area.

The report submitted to the council goes on to state: “The home would be staffed by at least two specially trained members of staff 24 hours a day, seven days a week. During the daytime, there will be a hall manager, a deputy, and 2-3 other members of staff present. Overnight, there would be at least two members of staff staying at the home.

The proposal does not propose any physical changes to the building (either internal or external), with the home to remain in it’s current form and will operate in a manner comparable with a standard family home.”

At the point of publication, a decision has not yet been made on the application by council officers or elected members.