Purpose

Key Drivers:

To support fulfilment of the statutory sufficiency duty for looked after children, as defined in section 22G of The Children Act 1989, which requires the local authority to take steps to secure, as far as reasonably practicable, sufficient accommodation within the authority’s area that meets the needs of children the local authority is looking after.

Delivery aligned with the CFLL Corporate Parenting Safe and Stable Homes Looked After Children and Care Leaver Sufficiency Strategy 2025-2028

Background

In November 2022 Cabinet approved £18m investment to purchase and/ or refurbish properties to provide up to nine fit-for-purpose community children’s homes for 24 child placements.

The property at Old Orchard, Woking was purchased for this purpose in March 2025.  In September 2025 planning permission for change of use from C3 to C2 was achieved to enable its use a children’s home, once adaptation and registration with Ofsted are completed.

Decision

It was AGREED that:

1. The property Old Orchard, Woking should be adapted for use as a four-bed Children’s Home as part of the Corporate Parenting Children’s Home Development Programme.

Reasons for the decision

1. Adaption of the property for use as a Children’s Home accommodation supports realisation of benefits and improved outcomes for children looked after by the Council aligned with Surrey County Council’s Safe and Stable Homes Looked After Children and Care Leaver Sufficiency Strategy 2025-2028

1. The Programme supports CFLL's ambition to reduce reliance on costly out-of-county placements. The proposal supports bringing children back into Surrey.  Although the Programme is slightly behind schedule, increased third-party placement costs continue to strengthen the financial benefits of delivery. L&P to support with the Ofsted process.

1. The property has been identified as suitable and purchased for use as a 4-bed home for children with complex needs

1. The scheme is affordable within the approved MTFS and meets demographic need from 2027/28 onwards, reducing known pressure on Children’s Services revenue budgets.

1. The scheme’s development and project delivery will be managed by Capital Projects and the same team that successfully delivered the seven new-build children’s homes 2023/24 to 2025/26.

1. Planning approval for change of use-class C3 to C2 was secured in September 2025

1. Under Section 2 (1) of the Local Authorities (land) Act 1963 the Council has extensive powers and may, for the benefit of its area, erect, extend, alter, or resurrect any building, and construct or carry out works on land. Legal advice is sought prior to acquiring all works to ensure the Council meets its obligations and obtains all necessary consents.

Alternative options considered

NA.