Care home, shop and cafe could create 100 new posts

Developers have unveiled bold plans to build a new 65- bed care home, a supermarket and a cafe in Bridge of Weir.

The exciting proposals would create 100 new jobs in the village by demolishing a disused motor garage at Kilmacolm Road.

Papers lodged with council bosses show the three-storey facility overlooking the River Gryffe would be the first care home in Bridge of Weir.

The complex would also feature two new shops, a superstore and the other offering food and drink.

The plans for 3.14 acre site also involve a new car park and landscaping on the ground formerly occupied by CH Bull & Sons Limited.

The garage, which offered car sales, petrol and motor repairs, was closed down in November 2013 with the site lying vacant since.

The papers show: “It is proposed that the care home facility be erected on the southern part of the site to the north and west of the River Gryffe facility, will be built over three storeys and will incorporate 65 bedrooms, with a specialist dementia care unit within.

“It will be provided with 20 dedicated car parking spaces and will create in the region of 40 new employment opportunities.”

While the new retail outlets will also bring a boost to the area’s economy.

The planning application adds: “The building contains two units with gross floor areas of 1030 sq metres (11,086 sq ft) and 186 sq metres (2,002 sq ft).

“Permission is sought to use the larger unit as a supermarket and the smaller unit as a coffee shop.

“The commercial units are provided with a total of 70 car parking spaces and will create in the region of 50 to 60 employment opportunities.”

The care home would bring a vital resource to the village as the report flags up a shortfall of 144 bed spaces in the area, which is forecast to rise to 223 beds by 2026.

And the development has attracted “significant support” from Bridge of Weir Community Council and Renfrewshire Council, as well as winning favour with the Local Development Plan.

The planning application adds: “The proposed care home will provide an essential and much sought after locally accessible facility in Bridge of Weir and help to address the significant shortfall in bed space provision existing in the area.

“The care home benefits from an attractive and stimulating location next to the River Gryffe and is in close proximity to the town centre, which will also benefit from interaction with staff, visitors and residents.

“The care home, retail development and coffee shop will create in the region of 90-100 jobs when complete and operational.

“These, in addition to the employment opportunities created at the construction stage, will bring significant economic benefits to the local area.”