A social care organisation supporting vulnerable families is looking to turn a Romford property into temporary accommodation for parents and young children. 

The Brentwood Road building’s current use is as a house in multiple occupation (HMO), with space for up to eight people currently available. 

Children in Mind is now requesting a change of use for the dwelling, enabling it to be used as a five-bed parenting assessment unit, or an HMO, if the organisation were to vacate the premises in the next 10 years. 

In a document compiled by planning and development consultancy Collins & Coward as part of the application, the proposed centre is summarised as somewhere that parents and babies, normally up to one-year-old, will be able to stay typically for a 12-week period, while the parents' ability to look after their family is assessed. 

If approved, it will be inspected and regulated by Ofsted and will have staff available on a 24/7 rota. 

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Ian Coward, a director at Collins & Coward, described the application as “a unique one”, adding it would be the “first such facility within Havering”. 

Collins & Coward was approached for comment. 

View the application on Havering Council's planning portal using the reference P1991.22.