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Preston City Council introduces tougher planning rules for new children's homes
Overview
Preston City Council has adopted a new planning advisory note to make it harder to gain planning permission for converting residential properties into privately-run children's homes. The move follows a surge in applications, with 90 proposals approved between January 2024 and August 2026. Under the new guidance, full planning permission will generally be required instead of a lawful-use certificate, and applications will typically only be approved if there is a genuine, evidenced need to support local children, aiming to avoid placing excess pressure on local services and existing infrastructure.
Key points
- Preston City Council has implemented new planning guidance requiring full planning permission and proof of genuine local need for children's home conversions.
- The policy change follows a surge in approvals, with 90 proposals greenlit between January 2024 and August 2026 compared to 14 across 2022 and 2023 combined.
- Preston had 62 registered children's homes in March 2026, with an additional 48 approved but not yet Ofsted registered.
- Lancashire County Council stated there are five times more agency-run children's homes in its region than needed locally, noting that three-quarters cater to children from outside the county.
- The city council aims to prevent an over-concentration of children's accommodation that could strain local schools, health services, policing, and workforce resources.