A care company is seeking to establish a home for vulnerable children on a residential estate.
Daystars Home Ltd wants permission for a change of use for the bungalow in Shernolds in Loose to enable it to house three youngsters looked after by carers working a shift system.
The company’s director, Olatunji Okedeyi, said in his planning application that he was looking to provide “a loving, warm, family-style home to vulnerable children from Kent and neighbouring boroughs”.
He said: “The home will be regulated by Ofsted who will carry out inspections to ensure the best possible outcomes for children and to ensure that they are loved, protected and supported.”
The company said there were currently 83,840 looked-after children in England and the sector was experiencing a “sufficiency crisis” with shortages particularly acute in Kent and the south east.
The home would accommodate a maximum of three children and two staff.
Plans submitted show the property having three bedrooms on the first floor and one on the ground floor.
The company argued there would be “no material change” to the use of the property, which could already be used to house a family of the same number of individuals.
A large drive had sufficient parking for staff cars and so the business would not add to parking pressures on the road.
The carers would not live at the property permanently but would be on a 24-hour shift rota, where carers would sleep on-site and change over the following morning.
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The application for a Lawful Development Certificate for the proposed change of use from a C3 to C2 use, as a children’s home, can be found on the Maidstone council website.
Look for application number 25/500198.
The company typically looks after children aged between seven and 16.
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