Care home’s 19-bedroom extension plan approved despite noise fears
AN extension has been approved at a Derbyshire care home.
The plans, submitted by Milford Care Group to Derbyshire Dales District Council, will see a further 19 bedrooms built at Ashbourne Lodge Care Home, next to the Airfield Industrial Estate.
District council planners have approved the proposals using delegated powers.
The care home, rated “outstanding” by the Care Quality Commission this year, has 20 parking spaces for staff and 31 for visitors.
It currently has a capacity for 54 people and this would increase to 73 under the new extension. Previous extension plans were refused due to the negative impact council officers thought they would have on residents.
Under the now approved plans a larger conservatory area will also be built overlooking the garden, with an open-plan kitchen and separate dining lounge.
A previously-approved extension at the home has since been converted from a swimming pool to four bedrooms aimed specifically at residents who have dementia.
The additional 19 bedrooms, housed in a two-story extension, will also be aimed at those with dementia.
Council officers say there is a need for 500 care home beds over the next few years and this plan would support that aim.
District planners had approved plans in Tansley to turn a 19-bed care home into housing.
They had said there are currently 401 residential care beds in the Dales and they are predicting an increased need of 426 by 2025, reducing again to 355 by 2035.
One letter of objection was received from a resident who felt the development would be “intrusive” and overlook their garden.
He wrote: “We already have to endure listening to residents screaming and shouting - the nearest bedroom is currently 24 metres away from our property.
“I know this cannot be helped but if the nearest bedrooms are only 10 metres from our property these disturbing noises will be able to be heard inside our house, which is unacceptable.”
Officers, approving the Ashbourne plans, wrote: “To conclude, the proposal would contribute an additional 19 care home bed spaces within the district and the scale, density, layout and design of the extension is considered to be in keeping with the existing building and character of the area without any significant adverse impacts on residential amenity or parking provision.”