50-bed care home plan is thrown out
Development’s location and scale unsympathetic to Kingsclere
PLANS for a 50-bedroom care home in Kingsclere that were met with criticism from residents and councillors have been rejected by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.
Frontier Estates applied for planning permission for the facility, which was proposed to be located on a patch of land between the A339 and Fawconer Road, on August 26 last year.
Those who criticised the plans believed the Hampshire village had no need for a care home and the land should be used to build affordable homes for local people instead.
In response to its rejection, Kingsclere Parish Council chairman Clive Mussett said: “Kingsclere Parish Council is pleased that the development committee has recognised the importance of the Neighbourhood Plan and recognised that some sites are not best suited for the purposes proposed in the application.
“This site already had permission for residential development which had the support of the parish council and residents. The care home would bring little
benefit to the residents of Kingsclere Parish.”
Mr Mussett also encouraged Kingsclere residents who wished to read the full reasoning behind the parish council’s objection to do so on the borough council’s planning website, reference number 21/02814/FUL.
In her notice of refusal letter, the head of planning, sustainability and infrastructure at Basingstoke
and Deane Borough Council Ruth Ormella gave three reasons for the development’s rejection.
She said: “The proposed development by virtue of the location and scale would not be sympathetic to the landscape character of the area at the entrance to Kingsclere nor positively contribute to the character and appearance of the area.
“The proposal for a care home is contrary to policy K HA1 of the Kingsclere Neighbourhood Development Plan 2011-2029 which allocates the site for at least 12 new dwellings as part of the proper planning for Kingsclere to meet local requirements. “In the absence of a completed S106 agreement the development does not provide adequate infrastructure to mitigate the impact of the development in relation to biodiversity enhancements, woodland management and travel.”
Speaking at a Kingsclere Parish Council meeting last October, Frontier Estates development director Will Rees said the home – which was targeted at Kingsclere residents with serious forms of dementia or who need end-of-life care, and are expected to have an average life expectancy of three years – would help to free up family homes in the village.
However, parish councillors were doubtful there were enough local people that fitted into this demographic to fill a 50-bed facility.
Sue Adams said: “If we had 50-odd people with dementia I think we’d know about it.
“That’s what I don’t get, where this demand has come from, especially bearing in mind this is a highend, expensive care home.”
The land should be used to build affordable homes for local people