Council creates new residential home for children

Part of a dementia care home in East Sussex is to be converted into a residential home for children with disabilities.

An empty wing of Ireland Lodge, in Woodingdean, will be named Rainbow Lodge and will provide full-time care for five children with complex needs, Brighton & Hove City Council said.

Rainbow Lodge will sit next to, but separate from, Ireland Lodge, and is set to open in spring 2025.

Councillor Emma Daniel said one of the authority's "key missions" was to ensure children were cared for in their "home" city.

"To do this, we need to have adequate provision to support their needs," she said.

The facility will be managed in-house by council staff.

Ms Daniel said it would provide a "truly amazing new home" for children with disabilities "that families will be able to access much more easily to spend time together".

Building work is set to begin in December and is expected to take about three months to complete.

The council said the work should not impact nearby residents but it apologised for any disruption caused.

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