More than £2m worth of funding has been secured by Suffolk County Council to help ensure children's homes across Suffolk can cope with increasing demand.
The authority has received a grant of £2.65 million from the government's Department for Education (DfE) to provide new placements within council-run premises.
£1.9 million will go towards repurposing two children's homes in unspecified locations.
One will be reconfigured into two separate wings to accommodate complex young people - providing two additional placements.
The other is to be developed into a provision for young people preparing to exit the care system.
A wholly separate independence/training flat with its own external entrance will also be created.
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The remaining £0.7m funding will be used alongside £2m already approved by the cabinet to develop a new residential home for children and young people with disabilities at the Felixstowe Ferry Centre.
This will create three residential care places and two shared care beds - accommodation established specifically for young people who spend a portion of time living with parents or carers at the home.
James Reeder, cabinet member for children’s and young people's services at Suffolk County Council, said: "I am delighted that we have been able to secure this funding which will help us repurpose existing children’s homes and build the new home in Felixstowe.
"This investment is the first step to increase the amount of residential placements we have available to enable children and young people to stay closer to their families, friends and existing support networks whilst realising cost savings as a result."
The £2.65m grant funding has been combined with additional resources to make a total investment of £4.4 million into new residential provision for children and young people in the months ahead.
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