Planning Permission Approved: Unique Kidz & Co. Expansion Set To Transform Community Facilities

HPA are thrilled to announce that planning permission has been approved for Unique Kidz & Co. to extend the existing building and garage onsite, landscape the neighbouring field to provide additional facilities such as an accessible bike track, bike shed, sensory garden, performance spaces, and the addition of two lodges. This project will provide space for the charity to grow, allowing the organisation to take on more disabled young people, expand their services, and provide more accessible spaces, meaningful activities, and opportunities for everyone.

Unique Kidz & Co. – a trusted service for disabled children and young adults to play, have fun, make friends and be unique – was set up in 2009 by founders and Mums Denise and Jane, who identified a need for their provision when they were unable to find suitable care for their own disabled children. The charity aims to provide social and play opportunities for disabled children and young people in the Lancaster and Morecambe area and due to the number of service users on the register is now reaching capacity. Additionally they have an ever-growing waiting list of young people hoping to make use of the services offered, so have outgrown their current facility and have purchased land to allow them space to expand.

Denise Armer, Co-founder, Trustee and Parent said “These proposals are the culmination of over 14 years of hard work and determination that myself and Jane, the other Co-Founder, have, for our children and other young people with disabilities to have access to the same opportunities as anyone else their age to make friends, have fun, socialise and play. This is why is it so important for the facility we have now to be able to expand and develop… this development would provide a legacy for disabled children, young adults, and their families”– Unique Kidz Co

The journey to this point has been highly collaborative. HPA conducted focus groups and consultations with the community, which played a pivotal role in shaping the proposal. During the development of the brief, staff, users, and their families at Unique Kidz & Co. were invited to comment on initial ideas and provide feedback. A community consultation event saw 60 attendees, all of whom were encouraged to leave their thoughts. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive and instrumental in refining the plans.

With planning permission now secured, we are excited to embark on this journey alongside Unique Kidz & Co. This expansion represents a significant step forward in ensuring that disabled children and young people in the Lancaster and Morecambe area have the facilities and opportunities they deserve.

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