A PLANNING application has been drawn up seeking permission to use a detached house as a children's home.

Proposals seek to use the property on Berringtons Lane, Rainford, for the care of up to four children.

A planning statement has been submitted on behalf of applicant Phoenix Care & Education Limited.

The plans state "it is the intention of the applicant" to use the property on Berringtons Lane, described as an "isolated detached dwelling" as "a residential children’s home for up to four children with up to three full-time carers who will be based at the home".

The statement adds that carers will be operate on a two day/night on and four day/night off pattern and "a manager will also visit the property and will work from 9 to 5 Monday to Friday".

Plans say that "most of the time the property will operate with two staff and two to three children, only when there are four children will there be three staff at the premises". This means "there will be three staff there most of the time and no more than four staff at the property at any one time".

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Plans add that "staff changes will be infrequent (once every two days for each member of staff, or equivalent to one staff change a day) with only daily manager visits. Two staff will sleep at the property overnight".

The application site is in the green belt but plans state the "proposal would be a change of use with no built development proposed" and "would therefore not result in impacts on the openness of the green belt".

The statement adds that the site has six parking spaces "which would remain unchanged" and that "the level of parking provision within the site is sufficient for the children’s care home use".

The statement concludes: "In summary, it is considered that the proposed use as a residential children’s care home would be acceptable in principle and would not result in harm to the amenity of neighbours or highway safety. Therefore, the applicant respectfully requests that the planning application is approved".

The application is on standard consultation to the public until Monday, August 26, with a decision expected by September 23.