Hounslow Council's Cabinet has approved plans for a new six-bed children's home designed to support looked-after children with complex mental health needs, emotional and/or behavioural difficulties, and anticipated neurodiversity. The home will not cater to learning or physical disability needs, as a separate facility is being developed for those requirements.

The West London Residential Project, a partnership between Hounslow Council, Brent, E-Link, the local ICB, and the West London NHS Trust, aims to provide an integrated model of care. This model will see residential and clinical services working together as a single team, rather than procuring clinical support separately, to ensure children receive the most appropriate support in the right environment.

An illustration depicting various aspects of community life in the London Borough of Hounslow, including schools, community centers, parks, and local businesses.
Community life in Hounslow

Councillor Madeeha Asim, Cabinet Member for Children and Young Futures, presented the outline business case, highlighting that the project aligns with the Council's Corporate Plan 2026-2030, A Fairer Future. She stated that the home will enable children to remain closer to their communities and support networks, leading to improved outcomes.

The project is also expected to deliver significant financial savings, estimated at £500,000 annually, by reducing reliance on expensive external placements. The proposed site is an underutilised council-owned building that is currently at risk of remaining unused and is affected by vandalism. Renovations and adaptations are planned as part of the project to bring this asset back into productive use.

The Cabinet unanimously approved the recommendations, including an increase of £808,000 to the project budget, bringing the total to £3.978 million. Funds will be drawn down for the next stage of the project, which includes technical design and contractor procurement. The West London Residential Project is projected to be operational in Quarter 4 of the financial year 2027/28, with the first cohort of children expected to move in in February 2028.

Further details on the project can be found in the Public reports pack for the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday 08 September 2026 Public reports pack Tuesday 08-Sep-2026 19.00 Cabinet.pdf.

A diagram illustrating Hounslow Council's 'Building Climate Resilience' plan, categorizing actions into Adaptation and Mitigation strategies with associated icons.
Building Climate Resilience plan