Remote farmhouse to become children's home

Ferneyhough Farm, near Ellesmere, is "no longer suitable" for modern farming, and plans to make it a residential care home have been given the green light

A remote farmhouse is to become a residential children's home, after plans were approved this week.

Shropshire Council gave the go-ahead for Ferneyhough Farm, near Ellesmere, to be turned into a home which would provide long-term care for five children with special needs.

Plans also include car parking spaces for staff on the site, which was put up for sale for £1.8m in August 2022.

The authority approved the proposals on the basis the scheme would bring the former farmhouse back into use and provide employment opportunities.

Up to five children would live at the house, along with five daytime carers and two waking night carers on a rota basis.

"The aim is to transform young people’s lives and experiences and support them at a level and pace to meet their individual need due to their disabilities," said a supporting statement from Unique Care Group.

The company operates two other residential homes in the county.

Shropshire Council said the site had not been used for agricultural purposes for a number of years, and it was unlikely to be put back into that use, due to it not being suitable for modern farming practices.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.