Care home firm to appeal refusal
A health care company has appealed against a decision made by the council to refuse planning permission for a 68-bed care home in Bath.
Barchester Health Care Ltd applied in May last year to build a sizeable care home on Wansdyke Business Centre in Oldfield Park.
The company planned to demolish a dilapidated building housing 22 business units to make way for the new home but permission was refused, with councillors saying the city could not afford to lose the light industrial floor space.
Now a fresh appeal has been launched by the company, with both sides to exchange written statements and a site visit by a planning inspector.
In a letter dated July 6, planning services said: “It has been agreed that the appeal should be dealt with on the basis of an exchange of written statements from both parties and a site visit by an inspector appointed by the Planning Inspectorate.
“Any comments made in respect of the original application for development will be forwarded to the Planning Inspectorate, and taken into account by the inspector deciding the appeal.”
Residents can make additional comments on the application at the Planning Inspectorate’s website using the appeal reference 3275528.
Last year, Bath and North East Somerset Council planning officers said the building’s owners had “actively allowed” it to fall into disrepair over a decade or more, but argued that the site is viable and the rental income of “up to £284,375” would justify the nearly £2m refurbishment cost.
“The site offers immense potential for refurbishment to bring valuable neighbourhood employment and there are many examples of industrial buildings being brought into use, including for example the Paintworks in Bristol,” the officers added.
Speaking at the planning committee meeting on December 16, 2020, Councillor Eleanor Jackson said: “These industrial sites are precious. The fact it was in a rundown and dilapidated state doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be possible to apply for funding from the West of England Combined Authority. It could have a future if marketed in the right way. We need these premises for all the little businesses that have sprung up during Covid making things in garages and back bedrooms who now want to expand.”
Permission was also refused because Barchester Health Care had failed to show a lack of demand.
The developers had in turn argued that the creation of 68-bed care home would create local jobs but councillors at the time were not convinced.
Ms Jackson added: “We should value care workers, they’re abysmally paid but they won’t be able to afford to live in this area and would probably have to commute in. It’s not going to create the kind of high-skilled tech jobs we like to see developed or craft jobs.”
Councillor Manda Rigby said she was not aware of pent-up demand for light industrial units.
She said a bike repair shop and a gym used to occupy units in the Oldfield Lane building but “they’re gone and they’re not coming back any time soon”.
The building has been empty for more than three years.