New approach for Blackpool children's homes

Action is being taken to control  the way new children’s homes  operate in Blackpool amid concerns the resort is being used to house too many vulnerable youngsters from other parts of the country.
Town hall planners are adopting a new approach to children's homesTown hall planners are adopting a new approach to children's homes
Town hall planners are adopting a new approach to children's homes

In recent times, 30 applications have been submitted to use addresses in the town to accommodate between one and six children in care. Currently another 10 submissions are waiting to be considered.

A meeting of Blackpool Council’s planning committee heard many of the children living in the homes are not from the town which places additional pressure on local services.

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Now councillors have agreed to take a fresh approach which will mean developers must prioritise Blackpool children in care rather than providing homes for children from other local authorities.

Susan Parker, head of development control at the council, said: “It has come to light over the last year or so that the council is struggling to accommodate our own looked after children in the borough.

“We have 70 spaces for looked after children, but they are taken up primarily by looked after children from remote areas.

“This is a concern in relation to looking after our own children, and in bringing vulnerable children into the borough, and we have seen significant increases in requests for this kind of use.”

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Applications are made in the form of a request for a certificate of lawfulness, which if granted means property can be converted to a new use without the need for planning permission.

While each case would be considered on its own merit, under the new approach deveopers would sign up to a legal agreement to ensure children from the local area were the first to be placed in new children’s homes in Blackpool.

Coun Lynn Williams said there were concerns nationally too many children were “being passed around the country like baggage.”

She said: “It will be beneficial to ensure that our children’s homes have to work with the local authority and prioritise local children.”

A report to the committee said when certificates of lawfulness are granted, the council currently has no control over the occupancy of the home.