Almost £4m for new properties for children in care
Getty ImagesCouncil leaders have backed plans to buy new properties to improve accommodation for young people in care.
Durham County Council agreed to invest £3.9m in 25 properties to boost services in the region during a cabinet meeting.
The number of children in care in the county has risen from 92 per 10,000 in 2020 to 122 in 2024.
Cabinet member for children and young people's services, councillor Cathy Hunt said: "We want every child in our care to have a safe, stable and welcoming place to live for as long as they need it."
About £88m was spent on care placements in 2024, up from £30m in 2020, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
A report to the authority also said the use of supported accommodation for 16 and 17-year-olds had increased significantly since before the Coronavirus pandemic.
Hunt said: "Demand continues to grow, and there is currently not enough registered accommodation available locally to meet all needs."
The council currently leases 26 properties from private landlords, which are used as emergency, temporary places of safety for children and young people.
However, the current costs range from £77 to £214 per night to rent them, equating to an estimated annual cost of more than £1m.
The council will set up a new team registered with Ofsted, which will support young people to live independently in the properties.
Cabinet member for planning and investments, councillor Joe Quinn said: "By reducing reliance on high-cost and unregulated external provision, it strengthens our ability to deliver safe, appropriate, and locally based accommodation - making more effective use of public resources."
It is hoped the properties will be in use by next summer.
