Wichelstowe children's home plans have parish council backing

Wroughton and Wichelstowe Parish Council has given its support to plans for a new children’s home in Wichelstowe.

Swindon Borough Council has submitted a planning application for a new children’s home in the parish.

The proposals would enable up to three children to live at the property, with one bedroom retained for staff use. 

No changes to the building’s existing layout, external appearance or landscaping are proposed.

 The parish council has been consulted on the proposals and has confirmed its strong support for the application. 

Parish councillors believe the plans could bring important benefits both for children in care and for Swindon Borough Council by increasing the availability of suitable local accommodation.

 Cllr Holly Woodward, chair of the parish council’s planning committee, said: “We wholeheartedly support this application. 

"In particular, the parish council recognises the potential financial benefit to Swindon Borough Council of providing suitable accommodation for looked after children within the borough.

“Developing local provision has the potential to reduce the significant costs associated with securing appropriate placements elsewhere, while also enabling the council to make better use of its resources.

"Most importantly, however, this is about providing children who are looked after with a safe and welcoming place to call home. 

"Children in care deserve accommodation of a high standard, in an appropriate residential setting, with access to the support they need to thrive.

“Providing this locally can also help children remain within their community and maintain those incredibly important connections with their schools, friends, families and other support networks.”

The proposed home would be located in an existing residential property in Wichelstowe. The application states that the home would operate with a maximum of three staff on shift at any one time, with the possibility of a fourth member of staff being present briefly during shift handovers.

The parish council hopes the proposal will help ensure that looked after children who need residential care can receive the support they need in a high-quality home within Swindon, rather than unnecessarily being placed further away from their existing community and support networks.