A HOME for vulnerable children will be built near Darlington - despite more than 100 objections.

Controversial proposals to convert Jubilee Wood Farm, near Heighington into a therapeutic and educational residential facility were approved at a meeting of Darlington Borough Council’s planning committee today (Wednesday, February 12).

The centre will cater for 14 children aged between eight and 18 with complex learning and social difficulties such as autism and anxiety disorders.

The £3m project, which will create around 50 new jobs, will be headed by The Witherslack Group, which runs similar facilities across the country.

The development is being built in a bid to provide a tranquil and peaceful environment for youngsters who struggle to integrate with mainstream society.

It will also meet growing demand to place looked-after children within their own local authority, with developers saying children from Darlington had recently been sent as far away as Lancashire due to a lack of suitable provision in the area.

The need for the facility was strongly contested by residents and councillors at the heated planning meeting - despite the planning application saying the North-East currently has the lowest number of children’s homes in the UK, with just five per cent based in the region.

Darlington mayor, Charles Johnson, opposed the development saying there was no overwhelming endorsement from the brough council to support the argument of a need, locally or nationally.

However, planning permission was granted with Councillor David Lyonette saying: “Need is reflected in the proposals where it says 26-50 per cent of looked after children in Darlington and Durham are looked after outside of their local authority.

“We have lost children’s homes in the area over the years and the need is there, no doubt about it.”

The meeting also saw representatives from the company respond to concerns over vehicle access and a possible increase in crime rates.

Witherslack Group’s director, Mike Davey, said passing places would be established on the narrow roads around the site and that crime rates in areas already housing similar facilities were unaffected.

He added: “We are North-East people trying to come up with a local solution and it is about ethics.

“If I had a child with special needs I wouldn’t want them to be bussed far away to somewhere like Liverpool, Kent or London.

"This is not about providing short term or emergency accommodation, it is about providing a home for someone."