A GRADE-II listed farmhouse on the edge of Wrexham county borough could be converted into a children’s home.
An application has been submitted to change the use of Croxton Farmhouse in the village of Hanmer, which is located close to the Shropshire border.
The proposals have been put forward by New Reflexions – a company which provides care for children with emotional behavioural difficulties.
According to planning documents, the property would be used as a specialist home for up to two youngsters, with as many as four staff and a manager on hand to support them.
The property has been listed by Cadw because of its special architectural interest as a late 18th century farmhouse with “good Georgian character”.
The care firm’s facilities administrator Mandy Perry said the use of the house would not be greatly altered by the scheme.
However, she said planning approval was required in order to register the home with Care Inspectorate Wales.
In a letter to Wrexham Council, Ms Perry said: “The small family homes that Reflexion Care Group Limited uses provide safety and security needed for the specialist care required.
“Each child is supported by his or her own key worker and each member of staff is trained in our own therapeutic methods to ensure both consistency in our approach and a care ethos which is supported by our professional therapy team.
“Our all-inclusive service provided to the children in our care also includes education which is undertaken at our school, The Evolution Centre which is based at Bicton on the outskirts of Shrewsbury, and it is important that our children are located within easy reach of these facilities.
“It is important for children in care to experience growing up within a community, but we do appreciate that this is a balance, as they must be ready to accept the boundaries and rules that come with living in such a community.”
“For this very reason we operate a number of different types of homes, some are very rural, others are semi-rural and some are in small communities.”
She said the location where children are placed depends on their behaviour and can change over time.
Two carers would be living at the property at any one time, carrying out shifts on a rota basis to provide 24/7 care.
Due to the issues that the children have faced in their family home, Ms Perry said there would be no parents visiting the house other than on rare occasions.
She added that the proposals would not have a significant impact on the local community.
The local authority is expected to make a decision on the application at a later date.
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