Plans that could see a Shinfield property converted into a children’s care home have been submitted to Wokingham Borough Council.
Agents for the Ka-Ching-Jane Lau, Lifespring Residences Ltd, have applied to change the use of 32 Cirrus Drive into a children’s care home for two children, to be looked after by a manager and up to three carers, two of whom would sleep overnight.
Documents supporting the application said: “Lifespring Residences Ltd partners with local authorities to provide high quality accommodation and services for young people who require care.
“This is an ideal location for providing a home for the young people in our care.
“It offers a lifestyle that promotes independence, while also providing necessary care.
“The development is designed to meet the current and future needs of young people. It is believed it will help create a diverse and balanced community.
“The purpose of the application is to enable the creation of a children’s home for children that have been taken into care permanently.”
It added the property would become a long-term home for up to two children.
They said there is no material difference in the nature of the proposed use, from the current use.
“The proposed children’s home seeks to replicate as closely as possible a normal family environment.
“This type of provision, which government policy is promoting, is to help children who often, through no fault of their own, have not had good parenting in their early years.
“These are not children with special needs.”.
The proposal is seeking to register the property as a registered children’s home for a maximum of two children aged up to 18 years.
The home will be managed by a registered manager, and children would be looked after by a manager and three carers, two of whom would sleep/be awake overnight on a rota basis.
No external alterations to the building or its surrounds are planned.
The property is a three-bedroomed town house, currently used as a dwelling with one off street parking spaces to the side.
“The purpose of the home would be to support the children to build their confidence, help them in developing life skills and prepare them for life when they leave the home to fend for themselves.
“This type of support has been found to be most effective in helping these children to have normal lives and not experience problems in later life.
“During the day it is expected that the children would engage in various activities, plus attend a mainstream school.”
To learn more about the plans, search application number 242232 on Wokingham Borough Council’s planning portal.
