Plan for new children's home in village near Hastings revealed
Proposals have been put forward for a new children's home.
The development by Clavis Group Ltd would convert a house in Rectory Park, Pett, into a small residential home for children.
A planning application has been submitted to Rother District Council.
A planning statement by Indigo Architects on behalf of Clavis Group Ltd said: “The latest available data published by the Government relating to the year ending March 31, 2025 shows that there are 81,770 children being looked after by local authorities in England.
“This is nearly double the number in care in 1994 since which the figure has continued to grow year on year across three decades, with a 29 per cent growth since 2016.
“In East Sussex, 2025 saw 688 placements, representing a five per cent increase on 2024.
“More than 25 per cent of 2024 placements were placed more than 20 miles from their home with 178 placed outside the local authority boundary, serving to demonstrate that East Sussex is currently unable to provide suitable local accommodation and needs additional homes swiftly to meet demand.
“The need to provide homes for vulnerable young people within as close to a normal family setting, and as part of normal residential communities, provides ample justification for the proposed change of use.
“Visually, the home will not be presented with any signage nor any other external change, thus the architectural character of the area is entirely unchanged.
“Such concerns are then limited to the living habits of those occupying the property and the general comings and goings.
“Whilst staff will not be permanent residents, the overall quantum of people occupying the home at any time will generally be not more than what could otherwise occur in any domestic setting, thus it is not significantly different to any large family home.”
The application can be viewed online via the planning section of the Rother District Council website at www.rother.gov.uk/planning and searching under the reference number RR/2026/1090.
Comments on the applications may be submitted online through the same website or by email to [email protected].