AN East Lancashire council has received another proposal to turn a family house into a small children's care home.

Associated Wellbeing of Blackburn Road, Darwen, want to convert 15 Cannon Street in Accrington.

The scheme would see the four-bedroomed terraced property turn into a care home for four young people with a carer sleeping overnight.

It would be for children aged eight 18 with a range of learning difficulties or other needs and challenges.

The company has applied for a Certificate of Lawful Development for the change from Hyndburn Council.

Last year the deputy chairman of the borough’s planning committee Cllr Judith Addison expressed concern over the ‘mushrooming industry’ of such conversions.

Supporting documents submitted with the application say: "There will be no external alterations to the building.

"Up to four children would live at the house, with a carers working on a rota basis sleeping overnight.

"The purpose of the home would be to support the children to build their confidence, help them in developing life skills and prepare them for life when they leave the home to fend for themselves. "This type of support has been found to be most effective in helping these children to have normal lives and not experience problems in later life.

"During the day it is expected that the children would engage in various activities, plus attend a mainstream school.

"The proposed use is to provide a stable home environment for the occupants as their main and sole residence and that the length of stay is generally more than temporary or passing.

"It would not be a ‘half way’ house or provide overnight emergency lodgings for example

"These are not children with special needs.

"The children's home model is to create a warm and nurturing family-style environment,

"Without such homes and positive interventions, these children when they leave the controlled environment of care homes will often end up in adult institutions, suffering from long-term health problems.

"In terms of comings and goings, there would be little difference from a family dwelling,

"The residents would be taken to and brought home from school each day,

"The residents would eat together and carry out domestic chores.

"The home would seek to foster lifestyles which would be the same as if the residents were children living in a family home.

"It is maintained that there is no material difference in planning terms between the proposed use and the current use as a dwelling."