Two houses in Herefordshire could become small-scale children’s care homes.

Bright Beginnings of Hereford is seeking confirmation (via application 242316) that it can use Cedar House, directly off the A438 in Bartestree east of Hereford, as a residential care home for three young people along with two care staff on rotation.

One of two large modern-style neighbouring houses built within the last decade, Cedar House features four first-floor bedrooms, a gym, playroom and integral twin garage.

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As the carers would not individually provide 24-hour live-in care, the new use would in planning terms be closer to a “residential institution” than its current use as a family home, the application explains.

But such a repurposing “does not result in a material change of use”, particularly in terms of likely transport to and from it, “and is therefore lawful”, it claims.

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In this it is following recent government guidance, which says full planning permission for a change of use is not required to in such cases – borne out by Herefordshire Council’s decision last November to permit a similar change of use of a large house in Ross-on-Wye to a children’s home.

Taking a different approach, a full planning application (number 242379) is seeking permission to change a four-bedroom house in Spring Grove, south Ledbury into a home for “up to two” children with round-the-clock care, as per Ofsted requirements.

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The applicant, Glan Property of Powys, says under the proposed new use, “the children will live in the same way that other children along the street live with their parents”, in an area “with established infrastructure for residential use”.

It adds that while its staff “are usually not permitted to physically restrain children”, they are trained in “managing difficult behaviours”.

Should rehoming of children become necessary due to such behaviours and their impact on neighbours, it would aim to do this “within a matter of weeks”, the company explains.

Comments on its application can be made until October 25.