Plans to convert Peterborough house into children’s care home

Ideal Social Care Group submitted a planning application to Peterborough City Council on December 5 to change the use of 62 Desborough Avenue in Stanground.

If approved, the property would serve as the long-term home for a maximum of two children aged seven to 17, cared for by rotating adult staff.

According to planning documents, the staff would change over at approximately 9.30am each morning to minimise disruption and comings and goings.

“The primary objective is to create a homely rather than an institutional feel to the accommodation,” the planning statement reads.

Children at the home would either have social and emotional difficulties, mild to moderate learning disabilities, or mental health needs.

There would be a staffing ratio of two staff members to two children on a 24/7 basis.

Six full-time and four part-time jobs would be created as a result of the development.

The applicant deemed the existing four parking spaces adequate for the needs of the proposed care home.

“We aim to provide flexible-term care to children, to provide the support children need for as long as they need it,” planning documents state.

“During their stay, we support children to reunify to family or kin relationships where appropriate and/or support them to move on to foster care or more independent arrangements as they grow older.”

Ideal Social Care Group is an established organisation that has run an Ofsted rated ‘Good’ children’s home in Peterborough since 2024, according to the planning application. It is now seeking to extend its offering.

City council planners will make a decision on the application at a later date.