Plans submitted for children's care home in Westhoughton

Clover Children's Homes submitted an application to turn the property at 45 Hollin Acre, Westhoughton, into a children's care home for up to two young people.

Clover want the three-storey, four-bedroom location to 'operate as close as possible to a standard family home'.

The planning document states: "The key aim is to work with the children in a therapeutic environment supporting our children with all aspects of day-to-day care.

The ground floor plans (Image: Bolton Council)

"This allows children who cannot for a variety of reasons live within their family home, to remain in their local community with access to the local schools and services that will complement our in-house facilities and support networks.

"A key aim of the Children’s Services is that our homes should look and feel like family homes therefore there will be no distinguishing features externally that will make the home stand out as a children’s home.

"Internally there will be no commercial appliances, all installations will be domestic and typical of a domestic family household."

Two staff members will be present in the house at all times, working in 24-hour shifts and sleeping over at night.

There will be space on the street for three vehicles to park, which is not expected to effect the character of the street.

Because the external character of the house will not be changed, Clover believe there will not be a 'material change' in the property's usage 'compared to its lawful use as a dwelling house.'

The first floor plans (Image: Bolton Council)

The home will be regulated under Ofsted, meaning it will follow the 2015 Children's Homes Regulations and the Children's Homes Quality Standards.

The home will also be subject to yearly checks as part of Ofsted regulation.

The property has a 'converted garden room' which will be used for the 'therapeutic benefit' of the children.