Old hospital site earmarked for care home

Plans lodged for new 77-bed facility

Developers have filed a detailed planning application to build a new 77-bedroom care home off the Dundee Road approaching Perth.

Consultants sent drawings and statements to Perth and Kinross Council relating to development company Westerwood’s proposal to build the home on the site of the former Hillside Hospital late last year, it emerged last week.

Rick Finc Associates say in a planning statement they reckon the proposed three-storey structure is “fully compliant” with Care Inspectorate standards for care homes and their choice of site “optimises accessibility to active travel opportunities and public transport”.

They also say Westerwood is prepared to create a new vehicular access to the site off the Dundee Road plus 24 dedicated car parking spaces and a drop-off zone near the main building entrance for residents, visitors and staff.

It is understood the occupants of a total of 29 neighbouring properties have been notified of the application by post and asked to submit their views about it to the local authority within the usual public consultation period of 21 days.

The planning statement says: “The application seeks full planning permission for a care home development ... with landscaping, access and associated works. It will be a state-of-the-art facility with high quality accommodation and communal areas served within residential wings.

“In addition it is fully compliant with Care Inspectorate standards for care homes in terms of operational design.

“It will comprise of 77 bedrooms with 24 dedicated car parking spaces, drop off zone/lay-by and landscaping/ garden areas. The internal floor area of the whole building is 4278 square metres.

“The building is to be set over a maximum of three storeys. Due to the topography of the site the eastern end of the building will be one storey. A flat roof will keep the profile of the building low.

A new vehicular access will be created off Dundee Road and will involve the widening of the carriageway in the vicinity.’’

The application will have to be assessed by the council’s transport planning and flooding teams plus its biodiversity and conservation officers before it can be approved.