A NEW children’s home proposed following Operation Bullfinch has been approved by Oxfordshire County Council.

The home at Litchfield Farm, Eynsham, will provide short-term care for up to six children aged between 12 and 17.

It is part of a £7m scheme by the county council to build four homes after pressure on children’s services increased following Operation Bullfinch.

The police investigation saw seven men jailed for a total of 95 years after they were convicted of sexually abusing young girls.

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Earlier this month a Serious Case Review into the case found social workers and police officers ignored signs of abuse.

One home in Thame was given planning permission earlier this year.

County council cabinet member for education Melinda Tilley said: “All our research shows that if we keep our young people close they do better.

“They do not like being sent away so if we can keep them closer it is better for them and us.”

The county council said 493 children are currently in care in Oxfordshire, compared to 465 last March and 415 in March 2013.

Earlier this month, the Oxford Mail revealed a lack of children’s homes and foster carers meant more than a third of young people in care were outside the county.

The council hopes the new centre will reduce this number.

Mrs Tilley said: “The scheme is hugely important.

It means keeping young people close and that is the most important thing.

She revealed children had been consulted over the design of the building to suit them.

She added: “Some of the children in care have set up their own council and they came to use with a range of suggestions for the new homes.

“We sat down with them for about three or four hours and asked them what they wanted.”

Eynsham residents were given a chance to view the plans at a public exhibition at the village hall last SeptemberMrs Tilley said: “We have had a lot of support from the local communities for it.

Eynsham Parish Council chairman Gordon Beach said: “I think our only concern about it was traffic related.

“The access is down a narrow residential road but I think the county council has done enough to address those concerns.”

It is not yet known when work on the site will begin.