Plans to turn house into teens' care home

The house would accommodate up to four boys and girls in their late teens

Plans have been submitted to convert a residential property into a home for vulnerable youngsters.

The four-bedroomed terraced house on Victoria Road, Middlesbrough, would accommodate boys and girls aged 16 and 17 who would benefit from care closer to their home area.

It would be staffed by a full-time manager and part-time support team between 09:00 and 17:00 on weekdays, with evening and weekend supervision “if required”.

Neighbours will be consulted before a final decision is made.

The local authority would refer each young person, agree their care plan and oversee their care.

A statement from Architectural BIM Services, for the applicant Taybrayz Khan, said the proposal is in “direct response to an identified local need”.

It added: “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.”

Councillor Zafar Uddin, executive member for children’s services, previously said having children looked after closer to home, was “extremely beneficial to their upbringing” and more cost-effective.