Two new children’s homes have been given the go-ahead for north and West Cumbria.
Cumberland Council’s planning committee has approved plans to convert existing properties near Whitehaven and Carlisle into the facilities for young people.
The home near Whitehaven will provide accommodation for up to five eight to 18-year-olds and also include a ‘move-on’ flat for two 16 to 18-year-olds.
The home near Carlisle will provide care for up to three children.
Cumberland Council said the plans were part of its £2.649m capital investment programme to expand in-house provision, creating three additional residential homes alongside a larger, enhanced home.
It said: “This investment will enable more children to live safely within their local communities, reducing reliance on out-of-county placements and supporting them to remain close to their families, schools, friends and wider support networks.
“By expanding in-house provision, the council will increase local capacity and reduce dependence on external providers.
“This approach not only delivers better value for money but also promotes greater stability and improved outcomes for children in care. The developments will also create new employment opportunities within the local area.”
In March, the latest numbers available, 60 children were living in care homes – and 84 per cent were living outside the county.
Cumberland Council has previously relied on private providers for care homes.
It said it had seen a significant increase in the number of children and young people who needed residential care as a result of a shortage of foster carers.
At the same time, the rising costs of places in privately run children’s homes had made dependency on the external market increasingly unsustainable, it added.
