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Surrey County Council is opening three new purpose-built children’s homes as it aims to reduce the number of placements out of the county.

The homes, one in Epsom and two on a site in Walton-on-Thames, are part of a £34m investment in the authority's provision for those in care.

Due to a lack of available spaces in the county, currently about 70% of children in residential homes are placed outside Surrey.

The children's cabinet member said the new homes would help with "redressing the balance" and offering places within the county.

A ´óÏó´«Ã½ investigation previously found children in care in Surrey were being housed in "illegal" homes amid a "severe shortage of placements".

A county council spokesperson said work being done to renovate existing homes as well as the new ones would mean an overall gain of more than 30 bedrooms for individual children in homes within the county.

Clare Curran, Surrey's cabinet member for children, families and lifelong learning, said: “I am delighted by the completion of these new purpose-built children’s homes.

"Too many Surrey children are currently living out of county, and having these additional, welcoming homes available within the county brings us closer to redressing the balance and being able to offer more Surrey homes to Surrey children.

"Having visited the homes and met with some of the staff there, I feel confident they will provide a caring home where children can thrive."

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