Oldham Council will open a residential children's home after plans were found to be lawful.

The council submitted an application for a certificate of lawfulness to the planning department on October 4 and was accepted on November 21.

The certificate of lawfulness will now mean that a property on Hayle Road, Moorside will become a home for two children.

A report by a planning officer found that the change of use would not be 'material' as the home is set to run much like a family home. 

There will be no more than two children living at the home at any one time and there will be two staff members working on a rota basis and sleeping overnight. 

The staff will work 24-hour shifts with the changeover happening at 10am.

A maximum of four staff members will be onsite at any one time, for the hour between 10am and 11pm and the manager will only spend 50 per cent of their time on the site, conducting admin work remotely the rest of the time.

However, the proposal and the report did state that there would be occasions when other officials would be required on site, such as Ofsted inspectors or social workers but that these visits are not frequent. 

Any children housed in the home would be between the ages of 10 to 16-years-old and any external visitors for them would need to arrange meetings elsewhere.

The covering letter on the application reads: "This proposal aligns with Oldham Local Authority’s commitment to providing care for children within their local area, consistent with the government’s "home for every child" initiative.

"By keeping children close to their home communities, schools, peer groups, and families, the children’s emotional and social well-being is safeguarded.

"Being placed far from their home can lead to significant disruptions, including separation from their support networks, difficulties in maintaining friendships, and potential interruptions to their education.

"This proposal seeks to minimise such challenges by ensuring that two children can remain within their local area, which will promote stability and continuity in their lives."