A VULNERABLE children's home could be created in Haltwhistle.

A planning application has been submitted to the Northumberland National Park Authority to change a residential home into a children's home at Burnhead by the applicant, A Wilderness Way Ltd.

The planning statement said: "A Wilderness Way Ltd is one of the country’s leading providers of residential care, health and education for children who have suffered trauma and exploitation.

"A Wilderness Way Ltd provides homes situated in tranquil countryside locations, allowing children to feel safe whilst providing them with the foundations on which they can rebuild their self-esteem, confidence and emotional well-being. 

"The property would be the primary residence of one child, who would be accompanied by two trained members of staff living at the property on a two-days on, four-days off basis."

No material external or internal changes to the property are proposed. 

The house is a detached two-storey property with four bedrooms, three bathrooms including two en-suites, an office, and large enclosed gardens with parking space for several cars and is situated within the Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site.

The statement went on to conclude: "The proposal would improve the wellbeing of vulnerable children with specific housing requirements and social needs, while having no adverse impact on neighbouring amenity, the highway network or the surrounding natural and historic environments.

"It has been demonstrated in this statement that there is no clear reason for refusal and that the overall planning balance weighs in favour of the proposal. As there are no significant adverse impacts that outweigh the benefits, the application should therefore be granted without delay."

Paragraph 60 of the National Planning Policy Framework states: “To support the Government’s objective of significantly boosting the supply of homes, it is important that a sufficient amount and variety of land can come forward where it is needed, that the needs of groups with specific housing requirements are addressed and that land with permission is developed without unnecessary delay."

The proposal would therefore meet the specific housing requirements of vulnerable children in line with Paragraph 60.