A COMPANY which specialises in providing care for children with significant educational needs has revealed plans to open two care homes and an education centre in Bradford, which it says will be "one of the leading provisions of its type in the UK".

The Witherslack Group operates more than 20 schools and children’s homes, and has submitted a planning application for the site of the former Harbourne care home, a Council-run centre for the elderly in Wibsey which shut earlier this year.

The site was sold at auction in February for £312,000.

Witherslack's plans would see an "Integrated Therapeutic Learning Centre" for 14 young people, and the company says it will create more than 50 jobs. The company specialises in dealing with young people with emotional and mental health needs, communication difficulties such as autistic spectrum conditions, Asperger’s Syndrome and communication needs and other complex learning needs. Children will live and be taught on the complex.

A multi-use games area will also be built on the site, and the existing car park will be increased in size to allow for 32 parking spaces.

The planning application will be decided by Bradford Council in November, and the company told the Telegraph & Argus that work would start shortly afterwards if it gained consent.

Phil Jones, the group's chief executive officer, said: “We are delighted to be launching our latest integrated learning centre that will offer a specialist school for up to 14 young people, who will also live on-site in one of two children’s homes.

“The purpose-built facility will provide specialist education, care and one-on-one intervention and therapeutic support for young people who are unable to access mainstream and local authority specialist provision.

"A full national curriculum plus wider vocational subjects will be delivered in the Learning Centre, which will include Science, Design and Technology and ICT suites, incorporating the latest educational technologies and innovations.

"I am pleased that this announcement will also herald 50 new jobs roles being brought to the area, as well as another opportunity for us to work and play our part in not only enhancing the lives of young people but also the immediate community.

"I have no doubt that this new provision will become one of the leading provisions of its type across the UK, offering the best possible educational, therapeutic and home settings for young people."

The plans have already attracted objections from some residents, however.

Some people who live near the site said the proposals would cause traffic problems in the area due to the number of staff.

One said the development could affect the value of her home, and asked if they would be compensated by Bradford Council, and others said the children living on the site could cause crime and vandalism.

A spokesman for Witherslack told the T&A that staff would be on site 24 hours a day on different shifts so there would never be the full complement of 54 staff on site at any one time.