For many of us, our home is a sanctuary, a place of peace and community. Imagine, then, discovering overnight that a residential care home for children has moved into your neighborhood with little to no notice or consultation. This is the reality for some communities in the UK, where the current system allows children's homes to be established under a Lawful Development Certificate (LDC) without the rigorous planning scrutiny that other changes of use require.

My community has experienced this first-hand. We were not informed of the application but happened to find it by chance, but had we not found it, we believe it would have been approved.  The current process under an LDC bypasses meaningful consultation with residents and ignores legitimate concerns about safety, traffic, and the impact on local services. The move to transform a home into a care facility deserves full transparency and participation, considering the long-term implications on residents and the children in care.

Currently, children's homes can be established under the guise of 'permitted development', meaning they are treated the same as minor structural changes and do not require the same level of scrutiny from local planning authorities. This leads to situations where residents feel excluded and blindsided by significant changes in their community landscape. Local councils and residents should be partners in these decisions, ensuring the homes are set up in areas best suited for the welfare of both the children and the community.

A balanced approach could significantly enhance the quality and suitability of placements for children in care by ensuring community resources and support structures are adequate. Full planning permission would ensure that potential impacts on local infrastructure, public amenities, and the local population are thoroughly assessed.

We urge the UK Government to listen to its constituents and implement a requirement for full planning permission for children's residential care homes, mandating comprehensive community consultations. This change could lead to stronger, more cohesive communities, where the needs of vulnerable children are met in an environment of transparency and mutual respect.

Private investors are earning between £3000-£7000 per week per child from the council to house them, some are not even ofsted registered and run illegally. 

Sign this petition to advocate for a planning system that champions community involvement and carefully considers the location of children's homes for everyone’s benefit. Together, we can ensure a better future for both children in care and the communities that welcome them.