Bid for rural children's home rejected again
The Scottish Government has now dismissed the company’s appeal, so the home will not go ahead.
One of the largest care provider firms in the UK has failed in a second attempt to open a children’s residential care home near Crocketford.
The Caretech Group lodged an appeal with the Scottish Government after Dumfries and Galloway Council refused to grant planning permission for the facility in Milton.
The well-established care company had submitted a planning application to transform a large house on the outskirts of Milton into a residential facility for children aged 6-12 with mental health needs, learning disabilities and other vulnerabilities.
Council planning case officer Chris McTeir supported the company’s plans and recommended approval, however councillors listened to strong concerns from dozens of locals and refused the planning application six months ago.
Since then the firm, which runs various facilities for children and adults across the UK, took the matter to Holyrood.
A council report, which will be presented to councillors at next week’s planning committee, states: “This decision was subsequently the subject of an appeal to the Scottish Ministers.
“On 27 February 2026, the Reporter issued his decision notice. He dismissed the appeal and refused planning permission.”
The application was refused planning permission by the planning committee on September 25, 2025, contrary to the officer’s recommendation.
Elected members concluded that the proposed change of use from a dwellinghouse to a residential care home conflicted with Dumfries and Galloway Council’s local development plan.
They said that Milton, as a rural small building group with no local services or facilities, would be unable to adequately support this type of development.
Milton residents, who objected to the proposal, said they support the need to help young people but insisted that the chosen rural site was unsuitable.
One of the main concerns raised was road safety, with locals noting that the narrow country lanes are regularly used by large agricultural machinery.
They argued that extra traffic from staff, visitors and residents could raise the risk of accidents, particularly on blind bends along roads where a recent fatal collision has already occurred.
Objectors further argued that the site lacks adequate outdoor space and that Milton has limited recreational facilities for young people.