A new children’s home will be built in Ombersley after plans were given the green light by councillors.

Wychavon District Council’s planning committee approved a move by the O'Connell Care Group to convert a house in Ombersley into a home for three children.

The plan had attracted objections from a handful of neighbours.

A neighbour, who owns a holiday let nearby, told councillors that the building had already been used as a children’s home for several years and he had been “impacted badly financially” because many guests were forced to leave early because of anti-social behaviour.

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He said children had trespassed on his property, “maliciously” knocked down a newly built extension in 2017 and even forced an elderly couple to flee their home.

Ombersley councillor Christopher Day said residents were “fearful” of what had happened before and he said the council needed to protect residents who “had chosen the quiet way of life.”

But he said he was also concerned about vulnerable children living in a “very rural area” – and questioned whether the remote location was the most suitable for a child to access the help and support they would most likely need.

Cllr Paul Middlebrough said children’s home was a “bit of a misnomer” given its size and called for the plan to be approved.

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“This is a home for bringing up three children,” he said at the meeting in Pershore on Thursday (September 14).

“And children can be brought up in a town, and equally they can be brought up in the countryside. It isn’t actually miles from anywhere."

Cllr Rob Adam urged councillors to provide a ‘wonderful opportunity’ for three children.

“We are only talking about three children,” he said.

“What a wonderful place to give these three children the opportunity to live in the countryside with the beautiful views around there.”

The original application in May had only asked for a lawful development certificate to allow the four-bed house to be converted into a children’s home, which the council went on to recommend refusing because the extent of the work would require proper planning permission.

The home would provide enough space for up to three children aged between eight and 18 years old as well as two permanent staff.

Up to six staff would be employed and only three would be at the home at any one time – except during handovers.

The plan was approved by eight votes to two.