Plans have been submitted to convert a house on Harrow View into a children’s home providing round-the-clock care for up to three young people.
The application, submitted on behalf of Optimum Youth Care Limited, seeks permission to change a property on Harrow View from a dwellinghouse to a children’s residential institution.
Home would care for up to three children
According to the planning statement, the proposed home would accommodate children aged between 10 and 17 with learning disabilities, autism and associated needs.
The document states: “The proposed home would provide residential accommodation and 24-hour care for a maximum of three children aged between 10 and 17 years with learning disabilities, autism and associated needs.”
It adds: “The proposed development is deliberately small in scale and would operate within an existing residential property as a family-style home.”
The existing house has five bedrooms, two lounge or reception rooms, a dining room, kitchen, bathrooms and a rear garden. An outbuilding would be used as a sensory and therapeutic space and not as separate accommodation.
Up to six carers could be on duty
The home would normally operate on a one-to-one staffing model, meaning three carers could be on duty when all three children require individual support.
However, the plans allow for up to six carers where a child needs two-to-one support. Typical shifts are proposed from 8am to 9pm and 8.30pm to 8.30am, with staff handovers twice a day.
Operator already runs homes in Harrow
Optimum Youth Care Limited says it already operates two children’s homes in Harrow, Haven House and Maple House, and that both have received a Good judgement from Ofsted.
A June 2026 Ofsted inspection of one Optimum Youth Care home rated the service Good overall, while identifying areas for improvement around restraint training, deprivation of liberty orders and whistleblowing procedures.
The application also notes that the proposed house already has lawful permission to be used as an HMO for up to six people.
A decision is expected by mid-November 2026.
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