WARRINGTON Borough Council’s cabinet has approved plans for the construction of two new, purpose-built children’s homes in Fearnhead.
The two-bed properties will support children with complex needs, ensuring they receive high-quality care from well-trained professionals in stable environments, without having to move away from their local community.
By investing in local, council-run homes, Warrington aims to ensure vulnerable children can remain connected to their communities, schools, friends, and support networks, rather than relying on external placements that often take children far from home.
The plans also address the national challenge of increasingly expensive and limited private care market. The homes will contribute to proposed council savings of £1.04m over the next three years through the insourcing of placements.
Cllr Matt Smith, cabinet member for children, families and education, (pictured above) said: “This project is about keeping Warrington’s children in Warrington. By constructing these high-quality, sustainable homes, we are ensuring that our most vulnerable children stay connected to their communities.
“Not only is this the right thing to do for their wellbeing, but it is also a financially responsible move that avoids the spiralling costs of the private care market and will contribute to council savings of over £1 million over the next three years.”
The council has been successful in securing 50/50 match-funding from the Department for Education for the construction of the homes, which support the aspiration to ensure more children with complex needs are supported in an appropriate place of care, close to home with a stable, well-trained, supportive staff team.
Construction work on the homes is due to start in May 2026, once the appropriate planning and tendering processes have taken place.
