Minister of State for Housing and Planning (): I, with the support
of my Rt Hon colleague the Secretary of State for Education, wish
to set out the Government’s commitment to support the development
of accommodation for looked after children, and its delivery
through the planning system.
The planning system should not be a barrier to providing homes
for the most vulnerable children in society. When care is the
best choice for a child, it is important that the care system
provides stable, loving homes close to children’s communities.
These need to be the right homes, in the right places with access
to good schools and community support. It is not acceptable that
some children are living far from where they would call home
(without a clear child protection reason for this), separated
from the people they know and love.
Today we use this joint statement to remind Local Planning
Authorities that, as set out in paragraph 62 of the National
Planning Policy Framework, local planning authorities should
assess the size, type and tenure of housing needed for different
groups in the community and reflect this in planning policies and
decisions. Local planning authorities should consider whether it
is appropriate to include accommodation for children in need of
social services care as part of that assessment.
Local planning authorities should give due weight to and be
supportive of applications, where appropriate, for all types of
accommodation for looked after children in their area that
reflect local needs and all parties in the development process
should work together closely to facilitate the timely delivery of
such vital accommodation for children across the country. It is
important that prospective applicants talk to local planning
authorities about whether their service is needed in that
locality, using the location assessment (a regulatory requirement
and part of the Ofsted registration process set out in paragraph
15.1 of the Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations) to
demonstrate this.
To support effective delivery, unitary authorities should work
with commissioners to assess local need and closely engage to
support applications, where appropriate, for accommodation for
looked after children as part of the authority's statutory duties
for looked after children. In two tier authorities, we expect
local planning authorities to support these vital developments
where appropriate, to ensure that children in need of
accommodation are provided for in their communities.
Children’s homes developments
Planning permission will not be required in all cases of
development of children’s homes, including for changes of use
from dwelling houses in Class C3 of the Use Classes Order 1987
where the children’s home remains within Class C3 or there is no
material change of use to Class C2. An application to the local
planning authority can be made for a lawful development
certificate to confirm whether, on the facts of the case, the
specific use is or would be lawful. Where a Certificate is
issued, a planning application would not be required for the
matters specified in the certificate.
