A picturesque stone-built cottage on the edge of a moorland village has been earmarked for small care home for two teenage children with "emotional behavioural difficulties".

Mohammed Akram Dad has applied for planning permission for the new use of Grange Cottage in Belmont Road, Belmont, which had been on the market as a family home on 2021 for £650,000.

A supporting statement submitted to Blackburn with Darwen Council says: "The subject property is a two-storey detached dwelling positioned in isolation via a farm track.

"The property is a charming stone-built dwelling.

"The home has a large rear garden, with enough room for the residents to move around freely.

"The home comprises four bedrooms on the first floor, with the master bedroom benefitting from an en-suite.

"Two of these rooms will be used as staff sleep rooms, with one including an office.

"There is a modern four-piece bathroom located on the first floor that the residents will use.

"On the ground floor, the property compromises a living area, large dining room, spacious orangery, kitchen, utility room, cloak room and guest / staff toilet.

"The intention is to create a residential children’s home for up to two supervised/looked after children or young people with a minimum of two full-time residential carers overnight [one sleeping] and normally two full-time residential carers during the day.

"The children will be placed with Stepping Stones under the care of their local authority.

"The ethos at Stepping Stones Children’s Homes Ltd is to provide the highest level of care to the children within the environment of a single ‘typical’ household; while giving them the best opportunities to have positive outcomes.

"They do this by having a fully experienced care team working to suit the individual requirements of each child.

"The home will provide accommodation, care and support for two children or young people aged 11 to 17 who have emotional behavioural difficulties.

"These individuals will receive 24-hour support, care and guidance towards achieving independent living / community integration or step-down accommodation i.e foster families or a return back to their family households.

"The home will be managed by a manager, three senior residential care workers and three support workers.

"There will be at least two staff on duty at all times with a manager on site Monday to Friday, working 9am to 5pm.

"All staff will be suitably qualified and trained to work with children and young people with emotional behavioural difficulties.

"Like any of our other homes, our residents are likely to be placed within the home for long term (expected minimum term two years) to ensure stability.

"We feel the proposed change is an ideal and appropriate use in this location."